Journalist assaulted, locked in room for questioning BJP workers in Amit Shah’s UP rally
Lucknow: Journalist Raghav Trivedi, affiliated with the digital platform Molitics, was allegedly assaulted and confined by workers associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while covering a rally addressed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh. Trivedi sustained injuries and was subsequently admitted to a hospital for medical treatment.
Trivedi reported that he had interviewed several women at the rally who claimed they were paid Rs 100 to attend and were unaware of Amit Shah's identity. When he confronted BJP workers with these allegations, he was instructed to delete the recorded videos and then physically assaulted.
Describing the ordeal, Trivedi recounted being forcibly taken to a secluded area where he was pressured to delete the footage. Despite refusing to comply, he was subjected to physical violence. Trivedi further stated that despite his pleas, neither the police nor bystanders intervened during the assault. Additionally, he mentioned that the attackers used anti-Muslim slur against him.
“Initially, they denied any wrongdoing but when I informed them I had recorded statements of women, a group forcibly took me to a secluded place and demanded I delete the recording. When I refused, they began to assault me… I pleaded with police and bystanders for help, but no one intervened… I lost consciousness. When I regained consciousness, I found myself in hospital,” Trivedi told The Indian Express.
An FIR has been filed against six unidentified individuals under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code based on a complaint lodged by Trivedi's colleague and cameraperson, Sanjeet Sahni. Video footage of the incident shows police personnel present at the scene but failing to intervene.
“I kept requesting people to stop. There were 40-50 police personnel too, but no one came to my rescue as they called me ‘mullah’ and ‘attanki’ and punched me 150-200 times,” he told Newslaundry.
Trivedi's ordeal has sparked widespread condemnation from opposition parties, leaders, and senior journalists. The Congress party denounced the incident, attributing it to frustration within the BJP ranks over impending electoral defeat.
The Press Club of India issued a statement strongly condemning the assault and called for stringent action against the perpetrators by electoral authorities and local law enforcement.
The incident underscores the challenges faced by journalists in India, as highlighted by the country's low ranking in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, where it placed 159th out of 176 nations. Reporters Without Borders criticized India's position, stating that it does not align with the principles of a democratic society.
ये वो वीडियो क्लिप है जिसको बचाने के लिए मुझे अमित शाह की रैली में लिंचिंग का शिकार होना पड़ा, ये वो क्लिप है जो 400 पार के खोखले दावे की सच्चाई दिखा रही है, वो भाजपाई साथी जो मुझे पीट रहे थे उन्हें बस ये क्लिप चाहिए थे जो मैंने उनको नहीं दी और अब उपलोड कर रहा हूँ.
— Raghav trivedi (@RaghavTrivedi18) May 13, 2024
हां ये सच है… pic.twitter.com/AoUB6BdKZT
देखिए हमारे पत्रकार @RaghavTrivedi18 को किस तरीके से गृहमंत्री अमित शाह की रैली में भीड़ द्वार घेर कर मारपीट की गई।
— Molitics (@moliticsindia) May 12, 2024
सत्ता नशा अब पत्रकार पर सीधे हमले पर आ चुका है, सच्ची पत्रकारिता से डरने वाले आज इस कदर गुंडे बनकर बैठ गए है।
हम लड़ेंगे जीतेंगे pic.twitter.com/rpEem5qMDQ
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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.
