Karnataka cabinet adopts resolution condemning Pahalgam terrorist attack
Chamarajanagara (Karnataka), Apr 24 (PTI): The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday adopted a resolution condemning the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and accused the Union Home Ministry and intelligence agencies of "failing" to prevent it.
The cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, also called for an investigation into these lapses.
The terror attack in Pahalgam on Tuesday left at least 26 people dead, including two from Karnataka.
"Our government strongly condemns the terrorist attack on innocent civilians in Pahalgam. We express our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased on behalf of the people of Karnataka," the resolution stated.
It described terrorist attacks as heinous crimes against humanity and urged the nation to unite in the fight to eradicate terrorism in all forms.
"However, the failure of the Union Home Department is the reason for these heinous attacks, from Pulwama to Pahalgam, the resolution said. The situation is such that the Intelligence Department has to hang its head in shame at the international level for its weaknesses and failures."
"Moreover, hundreds of families have been orphaned. The Karnataka government strongly condemns this failure of the Home Ministry," it added.
It also condemned the use of terrorist attacks on innocent civilians for "the evil politics of communal polarisation" and demanded a thorough investigation into the failures.
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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.
