Rs 12 crore cosmetics and dry dates of Pak-origin seized at Nhava Sheva port; 2 held
Mumbai, Sep 14 (PTI): The DRI has seized 28 containers carrying cosmetics and dry dates of Pakistani origin and valued at about Rs 12 crore at the Nhava Sheva port in Navi Mumbai and arrested two persons in this connection, officials said.
The consignments were procured by three Indian importers in blatant violation of prohibitions imposed by the government on the import of Pakistani-origin goods, the officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) said on Saturday.
A Dubai-based Indian national, operating on a commission basis, facilitated the transhipment of dry dates from Pakistan by issuing fabricated invoices. He allegedly used his firms to disguise the sea transport trail.
The containers were routed through the Jebel Ali port in Dubai by misdeclaring them as of the UAE origin, the officials said.
Under ‘Operation Deep Manifest’, India's top anti-smuggling unit seized 28 containers loaded with 800 tonnes of cosmetics and dry dates of Pakistani origin, an official said.
The goods were sent through a complex web of transactions involving Pakistani, Indian and UAE nationals, to obscure their true origin.
Money was also routed from India to Pakistan through him, the official said, adding the supplier has been arrested.
A Customs broker has also been arrested for facilitating the smuggling of cosmetics from Pakistan by falsely declaring the country of origin, he said.
In the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 persons, the Centre on May 2 imposed a complete ban on direct or indirect import of Pakistani-origin goods.
The DRI subsequently launched an operation to seize goods imported from the neighbouring country in violation of the ban.
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.
