MP: DCP, police station in charge transferred after lathi-charge on Bajrang Dal activists in Indore
Indore/Bhopal, Jun 16: Two officers, including a deputy commissioner of police, were on Friday removed from field posting within 24 hours of a lathi-charge on Bajrang Dal activists staging an anti-drug mafia protest at a busy intersection in Indore.
The action took place after leaders of the ruling BJP and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in the state took strong objection to the baton charge that took place late Thursday night at Palasia intersection.
Indore Police Commissioner Makrand Deoskar told PTI DCP Dharmendra Singh Bhadoria has been relieved of his current duties and is posted as commandant at the Rustomji Armed Police Training College (RAPTC) in the city, while Palasia police station officer-in-charge Sanjay Singh Bais has been attached to the police line.
An FIR has been registered against "unknown persons" under Sections 147 (rioting), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 332 (causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code in connection with the Bajrang Dal protest, he said.
"Bajrang Dal activists were brutally caned by the police, which led to 11 persons suffering injuries. The action against the protestors is totally unjustified," BJP's Indore unit president Gaurav Randive told PTI.
VHP's Malwa region (Indore-Ujjain division) secretary Sohan Vishwakarma alleged "some police officers selectively beat up Bajrang Dal activists with sticks due to old grudge".
"We demand that DCP Bhadoria, who ordered the lathi charge, as well as an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and three station house officers be dismissed from service within 48 hours," he said.
He said if the state government did not sack these police officers within 48 hours, the VHP would launch a "violent agitation" in Indore and Ujjain divisions.
Police lathi-charged a group of Bajrang Dal activists and arrested 11 of them when they held a sit-in protest over registration of "false" cases against the outfit's members for complaining against those involved in illegal drug trade, Bhadoria had said earlier.
"A group of Bajrang Dal activists suddenly gathered at the busy intersection without any permission and staged a sit-in protest, leading to traffic jams on all four roads. When the protesters refused to budge despite repeated appeals by the police, they were moved away from the spot using mild force," Bhadoria said.
Eleven protesters were arrested under Section 151 (preventive arrest to prevent commission of a cognizable offence) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), he said.
Five police personnel suffered injuries while trying to control the Bajrang Dal activists during their 'chakka jam' protest, while some people also hurled stones at the cops, he added.
However, VHP leader Vishwakarma said Bajrang Dal activists, who were demanding action against the drug mafia, gathered at Palasia intersection when the police asked them to leave Palasia police station."
"The purpose of these activists was not to harass the public by blocking traffic. They did not pelt stones at the police," he claimed.
Talking to reporters in Bhopal on Friday, state Home Minister and government spokesperson Narottam Mishra said he has taken cognisance of the incident.
"We have also taken cognizance of the police action against the protesters and have decided to send an Additional Director General of Police (ADGP)-level officer to probe all issues related to it," he said.
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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.
