Delivery conducted under mobile torchlight at Raichur PHC, video sparks outrage
Raichur: A video showing doctors at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Hutti Gold Mines town of Lingasugur taluk performing a delivery under the light of a mobile phone torch has gone viral, raising questions about the condition of healthcare facilities in government hospitals.
According to reports, several hospitals in the taluk, including the Lingasugur facility, receive free solar power supply from Selco’s electricity unit. However, some of these units have reportedly been out of service for months without repair. Due to this, when a woman developed labour pains recently, doctors were forced to rely on mobile torchlight during the procedure.
A video clip of a doctor and a nurse attending to the patient under torchlight reached Vartha Bharati, our correspondent spoke with Lingasugur Taluk Health Officer Dr. Amaresh. He confirmed that the solar power unit staff had informed Selco about the breakdown but repairs had not been carried out. “It was an emergency, so the staff had no option but to proceed using mobile torchlight,” he said.
The PHC medical officer added that although the hospital has an inverter, it was not in working condition since solar power had been in use. He confirmed that the woman was later shifted to Lingasugur Taluk Hospital for further care.
Local residents, including relatives of patients, have accused hospital authorities of negligence and raised concerns that around 20 nearby villages are being deprived of basic medical facilities. They have demanded a probe into the matter and called for accountability from both the health department and Selco for failing to maintain the solar power units.
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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.
