ASHA workers not to take part in socio-educational survey work over unfair remuneration, unpaid dues
Bengaluru: ASHA workers across Karnataka have reportedly refused to participate in the ongoing Social and Educational Survey (caste census) being conducted by the State Backward Classes Commission, citing the government’s failure to ensure fair pay and settle previous dues for similar work.
The Karnataka Rajya Samyukta ASHA Karyakartheyara Sangha, affiliated with the All-India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), said that although Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced ASHA workers would distribute survey forms door-to-door, no official communication has been made regarding their honorarium, as reported by The Hindu.
D. Nagalakshmi, State Secretary of the Sangha, said reports suggested each ASHA worker would be paid Rs 2,000 for distributing forms, guiding families through 60 survey questions, verifying documents, correcting errors, and uploading the data to a mobile app.
“However, ASHA workers have repeatedly been denied compensation for such additional duties. Even during earlier government surveys, including those for the State’s guarantee schemes, promised payments of Rs 1,000 were never disbursed,” The Hindu quoted Nagalakshmi as saying.
She further pointed out that despite the State’s promise of a Rs 10,000 monthly honorarium from April 1, ASHA workers have not received any increase, unlike Anganwadi and mid-day meal workers, who saw a Rs 1,000 hike.
K. Somashekar Yadgiri, State President of the Sangha, argued that the additional workload not only disrupts ASHAs’ regular incentive-based earnings but also imposes financial burdens. “This is additional work. It is only fair that rural ASHA workers are paid Rs 5,000 and urban ASHA workers, who cover more households, are paid at least Rs 10,000,” The Hindu quoted him as saying.
He asserted that ASHA workers will not take part in the upcoming survey unless the government issues a clear order regarding their remuneration.
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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.
