Kharge, Rahul mourn 'Voice of Assam' Zubeen Garg's death in Singapore
New Delhi (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi on Friday expressed shock and grief at the demise of acclaimed singer Zubeen Garg in an accident in Singapore, and said his music defined a generation and carved a special place in the hearts of millions.
A popular singer from Assam best known for his song 'Ya Ali' from the film 'Gangster', Garg died while scuba diving in Singapore on Friday, organisers of a festival in the Southeast Asian country said.
Garg, 52, is survived by his wife.
Kharge expressed shock at the untimely demise of the well-known singer, songwriter, and someone who carved a special place in the hearts of millions of music lovers.
"Celebrated as the 'Voice of Assam', he enchanted people with his voice in several Indian languages and attained the status of a 'cultural icon' at a very young age.
"In this hour of grief, I express my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and countless fans," Kharge said in a post on X.
Gandhi described the passing of Garg as a terrible tragedy.
"His voice defined a generation, and his talent was truly unmatched. He overcame personal tragedies to reshape the landscape of Assamese music. His perseverance and courage have left an enduring mark. He will live on in our hearts and minds forever," Gandhi said.
In a post on X, the Congress said, "We are deeply saddened by the untimely demise of phenomenal singer and composer, Zubeen Garg."
"A renowned cultural icon of Assam, his soulful music touched millions and will continue to inspire generations to come. Our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and admirers during this difficult time," the party said.
Garg sustained injuries during scuba diving and was rushed to a hospital, where he died in the intensive care unit while undergoing treatment, according to the organisers.
He had gone to Singapore to participate in the three-day Northeast Festival scheduled to begin on Friday.
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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.
