Block Proton Mail, Karnataka High Court tells Central government
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the Central government authorities to take action under the Information Technology Act 2000 and block Proton Mail in India.
Justice M Nagaprasanna heard the petition filed by a company named M Moser Design Associates India Private Ltd that vulgar emails about its employee were sent using Proton Mail to other employees and the company's clients.
The judge said that, until the Centre implemented the measures, the offending Uniform Resource Locators (URL) indicated in the petitions would be blocked.
The company had asked the HC to issue a direction to the Centre to prohibit the use of Proton Mail in the country, adding that the servers operated outside India and claimed to be beyond the limits of Indian legislation. It also said that mails with inappropriate content, including AI-generated images, about a senior employee were sent to other staff members and business contacts of the company.
The petitioner told the court that an FIR had been filed in November 2024 but as police investigation had proved to be inadequate, legal help was sought.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aravind Kamath represented the Central government during the hearing on Tuesday while advocate Jatin Sehgal argued on behalf of the petitioner.
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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.
