Swati Maliwal alleges Kejriwal's staff member 'assaulted' her, no formal complaint yet: Police
New Delhi, May 13: AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Monday went to the Civil Lines police station and alleged that a member of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's personal staff "assaulted' her at the chief minister's official residence, police officials said. Police have not yet received a formal complaint.
There was no response to messages and calls made to Maliwal for her comment. There was also no reaction from either the chief minister's residence or from Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party.
Police received a PCR call at 9.34 am from a woman who said she had been assaulted at the Delhi chief minister's residence. "After some time, MP madam came to the police station. However, she left stating she will give complaint later," Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) M K Meena told reporters.
The call was from Maliwal's mobile number, added another officer, stating that she was the one on the other side of the line.
"She said she was calling from the CM's residence and had been assaulted by his staff," the officer recounted.
A team from the Civil Lines police station reached the chief minister's residence soon after the call. The SHO met Maliwal there and she told him she would soon be going to the police station, the officer said.
Maliwal went to the police station around 10 am.
"In the police station, she was informed that a medical examination is necessary to file an assault FIR. She was at the police station for five minutes and left without filing any formal complaint. She said she would be back later," he said.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva demanded an investigation into the matter. "If such a thing happens to any woman, she should get justice," he told reporters.
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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.
