Rahul Gandhi, UP minister engage in heated exchange during meeting in Raebareli
Raebareli (PTI): A high-level review meeting of key central schemes here saw a heated exchange between Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and Uttar Pradesh Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh after the latter was told that members must seek the chair's permission before speaking.
A video of the exchange at the September 11 meeting went viral on social media on Friday.
The incident occurred during the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting held at the Collectorate's Bachat Bhawan. Amethi MP and DISHA co-chairperson Kishori Lal Sharma, several MLAs and block chiefs were also present at the meeting.
Sharma told PTI that the confrontation arose when Singh began directly questioning officials.
"In DISHA meetings, members must seek the chair's permission before speaking. I reminded him of this procedure, just as all questions in the Lok Sabha are addressed through the Speaker," Sharma said.
A minister should know parliamentary etiquette, he said, adding, "The chief minister should take note of such conduct. What message does it send about cabinet discipline?"
Meanwhile, Singh, the minister of state (independent charge) for horticulture, posted a lengthy statement on social media in response to a viral photograph of Gandhi shaking hands with his son, also a local block chief.
Singh alleged that Congress supporters circulated the image to troll him.
"My son should not have merely shaken hands but touched Rahul Gandhi's feet as a mark of respect since he is my age," he said.
The minister claimed that he stood up and greeted Gandhi, but "he did not shake hands with me".
Calling for "an end to the controversy", Singh wrote, "Let us move forward in 'apni apni disha' (our own directions)."
The DISHA meeting was boycotted by expelled Samajwadi Party MLA from Unchahar, Manoj Kumar Pandey, over one of his proposals being denied indulgence, while an upset Lalganj block head Shivani Singh chose to skip it after her vehicle was allegedly denied entry into the collectorate premises.
Singh, an MLC who hails from Raebareli and was formerly with the Congress, staged a demonstration against Gandhi, along with BJP workers, a day earlier, demanding an apology for allegedly derogatory remarks made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother during a recent Congress rally in Bihar.
BJP MLA from Raebareli (Sadar), Aditi Singh, told PTI that such spats don't behove a forum dedicated to development works.
"All elected and nominated public representatives take part in these meetings. Now you have every other platform for politics, 365 days for politics. But when you have such development-oriented meetings, it is best to stick to protocol and respectfully deal with issues related to the public.
"Regardless of party lines, it is important to discuss points of development in your constituency or area of work," she said.
She said she would not comment on anyone's behaviour and underlined that all parties should focus on development issues.
"I don't like using such platforms for pushing agendas of politics, I prefer doing my work there," she added.
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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.
