ECI 'failed' to cooperate with CID probe into large scale vote deletion: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday backed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s charges of large-scale voter deletions, alleging that the Election Commission (EC) has failed to cooperate with the CID probe ordered by the Karnataka government.
Speaking to PTI, Shivakumar said, "What Rahul Gandhi has said is a fact. There is nothing wrong with it. He has said the truth."
Some people attempted to delete a few voters' names by giving wrong telephone numbers. "They (unknown fraudsters) wanted to delete a very large number of votes. Ultimately we found it out," Shivakumar said.
According to him, the Criminal Investigation Department of Karnataka, which has been assigned to probe the matter, is seeking information about the telephone numbers used for deleting the voters.
"The CID had requested the ECI, which is not cooperating," the Deputy CM alleged.
He cautioned that similar instances had occurred in KR Puram, adding that until the EC supports the investigation, the CID cannot proceed.
"What Rahul Gandhi has said is true. We have to take some drastic action. My CM also knows," he stated.
On the issue of Bengaluru’s poor roads and complaints from IT companies, Shivakumar said the government is committed to finding solutions rather than engaging in political blame games.
"We are there to solve the problem. I've asked the IT minister… in every part of the country this problem persists; only Bengaluru is making noise," he remarked.
He further said that a committee has been constituted with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to address the issue of potholes and road infrastructure.
"When it rains, even around Vidhana Soudha, there are 20 potholes. We are there to solve their problems. Tweeting and making big news will not solve the problem. I've fixed time and devised a plan to solve all problems relating to roads," he asserted, promising swift action.
Shivakumar’s reaction came after online trucking platform BlackBuck Co-Founder & CEO Rajesh Yabaji on Tuesday said that the company has decided to move out of its current location at Bellandur on Bengaluru's Outer Ring Road (ORR), citing commuting and road infrastructure issues.
The ORR, which is one of the IT corridors in the city, often witnesses traffic congestion.
"ORR (Bellandur) has been our "office + home" for the last 9 years. But it's now very-very hard to continue here. We have decided to move out," Yabaji said in a post on 'X'.
"Background: Average commute for my colleagues shot up to 1.5+ hrs (one way). Roads full of potholes & dust, coupled with lowest intent to get them rectified. Didn't see any of this changing in the next 5 years," 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.
