Senior Finance Ministry official killed, three injured as BMW hits motorcycle in Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI): A senior official of the Union Ministry of Finance was killed and three people, including his wife, were injured after a BMW allegedly hit his motorcycle near Delhi Cantonment metro station on Ring Road here on Sunday, police said.
The deceased was identified as Navjot Singh (52), Deputy Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and a resident of Hari Nagar, they added.
Police said three PCR calls were received in the afternoon about a traffic jam near metro pillar number 67 on the Dhaula Kuan-Delhi Cantt stretch. A team rushed to the spot and found a BMW X5 lying sideways on the road and a motorcycle parked near the road divider.
Eyewitnesses told police that a woman was driving the car when it hit the motorcycle from behind.
Singh was driving the motorcycle and his wife was riding pillion. They were rushed to a hospital in a taxi by the woman and her husband who were in the BMW. The front portion of the car was mangled due to the impact of the collision, according to the eyewitnesses.
Later, police were informed by the hospital where Singh and his wife were taken that he succumbed to injuries, while his wife, 50, was undergoing treatment.
Police said the BMW driver and her husband, who runs a business, are residents of Gurugram. The couple also sustained injuries in the accident and has been hospitalised. Their statements are yet to be recorded.
"The BMW and the motorcycle involved in the accident have been seized. The spot was examined by a crime team and experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory were called in for assistance. An FIR is being registered in the matter and an investigation is underway," a senior police officer said.
Traffic movement in the area was disrupted for some time but was restored after the damaged vehicles were removed from the road.
Singh's son said his parents were returning from Bangla Sahib Gurdwara and stopped at Karnataka Bhawan for eating.
"They were on their way to Hari Nagar via Dhaula Kuan when the incident happened. Instead of taking them to a nearby hospital, they were taken (to a hospital) nearly 22 km from the accident site. My mother suffered a head injury, even though she was wearing a helmet, and a fractured femur," he told PTI Videos.
He also alleged negligence on the part of the hospital authorities in admitting his parents.
He claimed that his mother was made to sit in the lobby at the hospital despite her serious condition, while the husband of the BMW driver, who suffered minor injuries, was immediately admitted.
"Because of this negligence and delay, my father was declared dead, and my mother kept screaming in pain," he added.
The family later shifted her to Venkateshwara Hospital for better treatment. "My mother, who is a teacher, is devastated and so are we," he said.
Central Secretariat Services Forum President Udit Arya condoled Singh's death in a post on X.
"Heartfelt condolences to the family of Navjyot Singh sir who tragically lost his life in the accident. @PMOIndia @DelhiPolice, please ensure a thorough investigation and justice for the bereaved family. May they find strength during this difficult time,” he said.
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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.
