RSS follows Constitution, does not want to be another power centre: Mohan Bhagwat
Bareilly: Stressing that the RSS follows the Constitution, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said the organisation does not have any agenda and it does not want to become another "power centre".
He was addressing a gathering at Rohilkhand University on the topic 'Bharat ka Bhavishya: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh kaa Drishtikon' (Future of India: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's point of view).
"The Sangh follows the Constitution of India. It does not have any agenda and it does not want to become another power centre. A number of misconceptions about the RSS are being spread, and they can be cleared only when it is understood from close quarters. The Sangh does not have any remote control and it does not want that anyone should function according to it," he said.
Bhagwat said that if there is a power centre barring the Constitution, the Sangh will oppose it.
Seeking to clear the air over his reported remarks in Moradabad about the implementation of two-child policy, the RSS chief said, "Due to misunderstanding, some people are saying that the Sangh wants to restrict families to two children. We are of the view that the government should make a policy on it after deliberation. The policy should be made after getting consent from all sections of the society."
He said that when they say that there are 130 crore Hindus in this country, then it does not mean that they want to change anyone's religion, caste or language.
The RSS chief said that they did not want any power centre apart from the Constitution in which they had faith, and added that people should build India in a united manner despite the diversity of caste, community and region.
"A handful of people used to come and used to make us slaves. This used to happen because of our shortcomings. Whenever we have forgotten 'Hindu bhaav' (Hindu spirit), problems have come," Bhagwat said.
Referring to followers of other religions, he said, "We do not believe in Ram-Krishna, no issues. But despite all these diversities, we all are Hindus. Those whose ancestors were Hindu, they are Hindu still today. We are one as far as our culture is concerned. We were one in the past as well. Here, there are 130 crore Hindus because you are the child of Bharat Mata (Mother India)."
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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.
