Randeep Surjewala’s father Veteran Congress leader Shamsher Surjewala passes away
New Delhi/Chandigarh, Jan 20: Veteran Congress leader Shamsher Singh Surjewala passed away in Delhi on Monday following a prolonged illness.
He was 87.
Surjewala, father of party leader Randeep Surjewala, breathed his last at the AIIMS hospital in New Delhi this morning, family sources said.
His body was taken from AIIMS to Narwana in Haryana where his cremation was held later in the day. The funeral pyre was lit by his son.
Besides Randeep Surjewala, Shamsher is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Haryana Congress president Kumari Selja, former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former union minister Chaudhary Birender Singh, former MP Deepender Singh Hooda and several Congress MLAs were present on the occasion.
Shamsher Singh Surjewala was a five-time MLA and one-time Rajya Sabha MP from Haryana. He was also the former president of the Haryana Congress and a four-time minister.
He was president of the Haryana Krishak Samaj and of the All India Kisan Congress, and he fought for the rights of farmers.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited AIIMS and met Randeep Surjewala to convey his condolences on Monday morning.
"In the passing of Shri Shamsher Singh Surjewala, we have lost a popular & respected Congressman who worked tirelessly in the service of India's farmers & the development of Haryana. My condolences to his family & friends. Om Shanti," Gandhi tweeted.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said he was saddened by the passing of Shamsher Singh Surjewala.
"My thoughts & prayers are with the family in this hour of grief," he tweeted.
The Haryana Assembly also paid tributes to the veteran Congress leader.
Both Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Hooda described S S Surjewala, a former Haryana Minister who breathed his last at AIIMS, Delhi, at the age of 87 following a prolonged illness, as an able and experienced leader.
Bhupinder Singh Hooda said he was saddened by the news.
"My tribute to the departed soul. May God give peace to his soul and strength to the family to bear this grief," he said.
"Deeply pained at the demise of former Haryana Congress chief, former Rajya Sabha MP and former Haryana minister Shamsher Singh Surjewala," Kumari Selja said.
"His passing away is a big loss and it will be difficult to fill the void. The state has lost an able politician, an icon of development and a great public servant," she said.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath have also condoled his demise.
In the passing of Shri Shamsher Singh Surjewala, we have lost a popular & respected Congressman who worked tirelessly in the service of India’s farmers & the development of Haryana. My condolences to his family & friends. Om Shanti.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 20, 2020
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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.
