Over 2 lakh jobs 'eliminated' from PSUs, govt 'trampling on hopes of youngsters': Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi, Jun 18: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday claimed that over two lakh jobs have been "eliminated" from PSUs and alleged the government was "trampling" on the hopes of youngsters to benefit a few "crony capitalist friends".
Gandhi said Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) used to be the pride of India and the dream of every youngster for employment, but today, they are "not the priority of the government".
"Employment in PSUs of the country has come down from 16.9 lakh in 2014 to only 14.6 lakh in 2022. Do jobs decrease in a progressing country? 1,81,127 jobs lost in BSNL; 61,928 in SAIL; 34,997 in MTNL; 29,140 in SECL; 28,063 in FCI; 21,120 in ONGC," he said in a tweet in Hindi.
Hitting out at the government, Gandhi said those who made false promises of providing two crore jobs every year "eliminated" more than two lakh jobs instead of increasing their numbers.
"On top of this, contract recruitment has almost doubled in these institutions. Is increasing contract employees not a way of taking away the constitutional right of reservation? Is this a conspiracy to privatise these companies," the Congress leader asked.
"Industrialists' loans waived and government jobs eliminated from PSUs! What kind of 'Amrit Kaal' is this," he added.
If this really is 'Amrit Kaal', then why are jobs disappearing like this, Gandhi further asked.
"The country is grappling with record unemployment under this government as the hopes of lakhs of youngsters are being trampled for the benefit of a few crony capitalist friends," he alleged.
If the PSUs of India get the right environment and support from the government, they are capable of boosting both the economy and employment, Gandhi stressed.
PSUs are the property of the country and the people, he said, adding they have to be promoted so that they can strengthen the path of India's progress.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also slammed the government, saying the 'tamasha' of the prime minister's 'Rozgar Mela' was "rubbing salt on the wounds" of lakhs of youngsters wandering in search of jobs.
"Next time this tamasha happens, remember these truths that the prime minister will never accept: The PM is selling off the country's prized national assets to his chosen friends like Adani to help monopolise large parts of India's economy.
"At a time when the Modi government has destroyed more than two lakh jobs in public sector enterprises alone and crores more people need jobs, distributing appointment letters for regular recruitments on already approved posts is a crude joke," Ramesh said in a tweet in Hindi.
"The shrinking of public sector jobs is particularly harmful to Dalits, Adivasis and OBCs. Reservation has helped lakhs of families secure a livelihood and avoid humiliation," he said.
पीएसयू भारत की शान हुआ करते थे और रोज़गार के लिए हर युवा का सपना हुआ करते थे। मगर, आज ये सरकार की प्राथमिकता नहीं हैं।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 18, 2023
देश के पीएसयू में रोज़गार, 2014 में 16.9 लाख से कम हो कर 2022 में मात्र 14.6 लाख रह गए हैं। क्या एक प्रगतिशील देश में रोज़गार घटते हैं?
BSNL में 1,81,127…
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
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.
