Centre will decide on inclusion of any community to ST list, state only recommends: Siddaramaiah
_vb_53.jpeg)
Kalaburagi (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said the decision to include any community under the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list will be decided by the Centre and the state government will only send the recommendation.
Amid opposition from some ST communities against the proposal to include Kurubas under the Scheduled Tribes list, he said, there is no need for anyone to oppose, and if the community is eligible they will be included.
The Karnataka government is currently mulling inclusion of the Kurubas, the community to which Siddaramaiah belongs, under the ST list.
"This (move) was done during the previous government itself. There is no need for anyone to oppose. The central government will decide. We (state) will only make recommendations," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question on opposition by Valmiki community to the inclusion of Kurubas under ST list.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "There is no need for anyone to oppose. If the community has to come under ST, they will be included. If not, they will not be."
Kurubas currently come under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
They are seen as a dominant OBC community in the state after the Lingayats and Vokkaligas.
Among five OBC categories in Karnataka, who get an overall 32 per cent reservation, Kurubas come under Category 2A which has a 15 per cent quota.
To add any community to ST list, a recommendation has to be made by the state government to the Centre.
Responding to a question on BJP leaders' criticism against him and the government in connection with the social and educational survey (caste census), the CM said, "R Ashoka (Leader of Opposition in Assembly) and BJP speak politically... socio educational survey is being done to know the social and educational status of the people, so that accordingly developmental programmes can be planned."
The state's Social and Educational Survey, popularly known as the 'caste census' will be conducted between September 22 and October 7 at an estimated cost of Rs 420 crore.
On the BJP delegation complaining to the Governor, regarding caste census list, with at least 46 castes that contain dual identities, having both Christian and Hindu caste name, the CM said, "Are they not citizens of this country? Are Christians and Muslims not citizens? Whatever people say their caste is--to the enumerators during the enumeration--it will be entered accordingly."
Highlighting that castes with dual identities like 'Kuruba Christian', 'Brahmin Christian', 'Vokkaliga Christian' among others, may lead to confusion and give opportunity for a large-scale religious conversion, the BJP on Tuesday urged the Governor to intervene and issue necessary instructions to the government.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
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.
