Udupi: Police seize 65 kg ganja, arrest two
Udupi (PTI): Udupi police seized over 65 kg of ganja and arrested two men during an anti-narcotics operation on Thursday, officials said.
A special police team, acting on intelligence, intercepted the accused near Kinnimulki Swagatha Gopura in Kadekar village while they were allegedly preparing to sell the contraband, they said.
The accused were identified as Ganesh (38) of Hunsur, Mysuru district, and P Gopal Reddy (43) of Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, police said.
Police said it has seized 65.039 kg of ganja, two mobile phones, Rs 1,520 in cash, and a lorry valued at about Rs 20 lakh, allegedly used to transport the narcotics. The contraband is valued between Rs 32 lakh and Rs 50 lakh, with the total seizure estimated at Rs 72.21 lakh.
A case has been registered under sections of the NDPS (Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act.
Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar said preliminary investigations suggest the ganja was sourced from the Andhra-Odisha border.
"More people are suspected to be involved in this trade. The probe is continuing," he added.
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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The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, as originally enacted in 1956, put the maximum number of judges (excluding the CJI) at 10.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.
