Woman naxalite with ₹5 lakh bounty killed in Sukma encounter
Sukma (Chhattisgarh): A 35-year-old Naxalite woman wanted in nine cases of violence was killed in an encounter with security personnel in Sukma district on Thursday.
According to a Hindustan Times report the gunfight took place in the morning, following intelligence inputs about Maoist movement. A team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) launched a search operation in the forested hill area between Gufdi and Permapara villages under Gadiras police station limits.
After the exchange of fire subsided, security personnel recovered the body of Buski Nuppo, a member of the Malangir area committee of Maoists. She carried a reward of ₹5 lakh on her head.
A cache of arms and explosives was also seized from the site, including a .315 bore rifle with five cartridges, a wireless set, eight detonators, Cordex wire, gelatin sticks, gunpowder, a radio set and Maoist literature.
Police said Nuppo was involved in nine serious Naxal-related cases spread across Sukma and Dantewada districts.
With this encounter, the number of Naxalites killed in Chhattisgarh this year has risen to 247. Of these, 218 were neutralised in Bastar division, 27 in Gariaband district under Raipur division, and two in Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district in Durg division.
On September 11, ten Naxalites, including central committee member Modem Balakrishna, were killed in an encounter in Gariaband 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.
