Karnataka forms stillbirth surveillance panel amid rising cases
Bengaluru: In response to a concerning rise in stillbirth rates across the state, the Karnataka Department of Health and Family Welfare has established a Stillbirth Surveillance and Response (SBSR) committee to monitor and address the issue.
According to department data from August, as cited by Deccan Herald on Saturday, the stillbirth rate in Karnataka stood at 3.41% per 1,000 births, a figure that has surged dramatically in some districts, reaching as high as 9.8%.
This alarming spike has raised serious concerns among health authorities, particularly in districts like Haveri, Dharwad, Chamarajanagar, and Mysuru, which have reported the highest numbers. Even districts with historically low or zero stillbirth rates have seen sharp increases.
The newly-formed SBSR committee will track the number of stillbirths and causes, adhering to the International Classification of Diseases for Perinatal Mortality guidelines (ICD-PM). The panel will examine preventable deaths and use data to inspect districts with the highest cases.
It will also identify treatment gaps and recommend solutions to the health department, the report added.
Under the new system, hospital nodal officers are required to report stillbirths within 24 hours to district and state health officials.
Failing to register deaths will result in serious charges against hospital officials, while government officials will face internal investigations for failing to register cases.
Private hospitals that do not register stillbirths will face action under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act, 2007.
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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.
