Kashmiri journalist Asif Sultan granted bail in five-year-old UAPA case
Srinagar: Kashmiri journalist Asif Sultan has been granted bail by a special court in Srinagar in connection with a five-year-old case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
Sultan's arrest was related to an incident of rioting at Srinagar’s Central Jail in 2019, where a group of inmates allegedly set fire to several barracks and threw stones at prison staff.
He was arrested on February 29, just two days after being released from detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA), which allows authorities to detain individuals without trial for up to two years on grounds of national security or up to a year to maintain public order.
The special court's decision on May 10 observed that ample time had been given to interrogate Sultan during his 72-day custody. It further held that his continued detention would not serve any purpose, given his judicial conduct and status as a permanent resident of Jammu and Kashmir.
Judge Sandeep Gandotra, presiding over the case, pointed out the remote likelihood of Sultan fleeing the Union territory and granted him bail. Sultan was directed to furnish a bail bond worth Rs 1 lakh and instructed to cooperate with the investigating officer, providing necessary contact details.
Despite the Jammu and Kashmir High Court's order to release him citing procedural lapses, he remained in custody pending clearance letters from the home department and district magistrate.
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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.
