J-K: Omar hopes Centre will grant relief package for flood relief
Kalaban (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday reached out to the people of land subsidence-hit Kalaban border area in Poonch district, and hoped the Centre will extend a good package to the Union Territory on the pattern of the one given to Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
Abdullah said the administration has been asked to prepare a rehabilitation plan, including the grant of five marlas (one marla = 272.251 sq ft) of land under the existing policy, for the approval of the Cabinet.
"We also maintain communication with the central government, and they have constituted a team which visited different areas of Jammu and Kashmir. We will present our demands in front of them and hope that a good package will be given to Jammu and Kashmir, just as Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand,” Abdullah told reporters here.
During his visit, Abdullah assessed the damage caused by land subsidence in Kalaban village in Mendhar tehsil, near the Line of Control (LoC). Since September 11, over 1,000 people have been affected, with more than 95 houses, a graveyard, and a mosque damaged. Residents have been relocated to safe shelters.
Replying to a question on measures being taken by the government as the village has become unsafe, Abdullah said, “Wherever the land has sunk or is sinking, people cannot be resettled there again. They will need to be resettled somewhere else, at a new location.”
He said the government already has a scheme under which landless people are given five marlas of government land.
“Following the same pattern, we have asked the administration to prepare a proposal, which will be presented to the Cabinet for careful consideration and approval.”
On outreach efforts, he said, “It is our duty in this difficult time to help people as much as possible. This time, the rains have caused unprecedented damage in Jammu and Kashmir due to floods and landslides.”
He further said there is hardly any district in Jammu and Kashmir that has not suffered damage from floods, landslides, or heavy rains.
“Whatever financial resources we have, we will use them to ensure relief reaches the people,” he added.
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Ordinance issued to increase number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38
New Delhi (PTI): The government has promulgated an ordinance to increase the strength of the Supreme Court from the present 34 judges to 38, including the Chief Justice of India.
The law ministry notified the ordinance on Saturday, which amended the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to increase the sanctioned strength of the top court.
So far, the sanctioned strength of the top court was 34, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI). Now, the number of judges has been increased by four, taking the sanctioned strength to 38.
The top court will now have 37 judges, other than the CJI.
With the apex court having two vacancies at present, and the ordinance coming into force immediately, the Supreme Court Collegium will now have to recommend six names for appointment as judges in the top court.
A bill will be brought in the Monsoon Session of Parliament to convert the ordinance – an executive order – into a law passed by Parliament.
The Union Cabinet had cleared a draft bill on May 5 to increase the number of apex court judges.
The strength of the Supreme Court was last increased from 30 to 33 (excluding the CJI) in 2019.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, as originally enacted in 1956, put the maximum number of judges (excluding the CJI) at 10.
This number was increased to 13 by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges), Amendment Act, 1960, and to 17 by another amendment to the law.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 1986, augmented the strength of judges from 17 to 25, excluding the CJI.
A fresh amendment in 2009 further increased the strength from 25 to 30.
Article 124(3) of the Constitution lists the qualifications required to become a Supreme Court judge.
An Indian citizen who has either served as a high court judge for at least five years, or as an advocate for 10 years, or is a distinguished jurist, can be appointed to the top court.
The strength of the Supreme Court is increased based on the recommendations of the CJI, who writes to the Union law minister. After consulting the finance ministry, the Department of Justice under the law ministry moves the Cabinet with a draft bill.
