Strange incident in Andhra Pradesh: Locals protest demanding money for polling
Amaravati: Across several parts of Andhra Pradesh, residents took to the streets to protest the alleged non-payment of bribe money for voting. As the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections progress in the state today, concerns about the integrity of the electoral process have been raised.
Reports echo a similar incident in Maharashtra's Aurangabad, where women claimed they were enticed to a NDA campaign meeting with promises of Rs. 500 but were left empty-handed. Now, in Sattenapally of Palandu district, locals have staged protests asserting they were not given the promised bribe money ahead of the polls.
Leaders purportedly promised money in exchange for votes for specific candidates. However, disgruntled women took to the streets, lamenting the failure to fulfill these promises. This occurrence marks at least five such incidents in Andhra Pradesh. It's suggested that the going rate for a single vote in Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies ranges between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 6,000.
In Peethampuram, voters aired their grievances for lack of payment in front of candidates' offices. Allegedly, party supporters were promised Rs. 5,000 per vote, leading to protests when women voters were allegedly overlooked. Police intervention was required to disperse the crowd.
Similarly, in Ongole, Rs. 5,000 per vote was purportedly distributed, sparking protests from those left empty-handed. Villagers in Kondevaram village, East Godavari district, also protested, demanding compensation for their votes. A similar scenario unfolded in Vijayawada, where households of corporation members were allegedly offered Rs. 1,000 per vote.
As the voting process unfolds in Andhra Pradesh, reports of violence in certain polling booths have emerged. Mukesh Kumar Meena, Chief Electoral Officer of Andhra Pradesh, confirmed the rescue of three abducted TDP polling agents in Chittoor district.
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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.
