Targeted deletion of minority, SC votes in Aland constituency in 2023 polls: Congress MLA B R Patil
New Delhi/Bengaluru(PTI): Congress MLA B R Patil, representing Aland constituency in Karnataka, on Thursday alleged that a targeted deletion of minority, scheduled caste and backward caste votes occurred during the 2023 state assembly election.
The MLA had won the Assembly election with a margin of over 10,000 votes in 2023.
During a press conference in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi on Thursday cited the example of the Aland constituency.
He said the top 10 booths with maximum deletions were Congress strongholds. Congress won eight out of the 10 booths in 2018. This was not a coincidence; this was a planned operation, he alleged.
Later, speaking to reporters in Delhi, Patil said, “When I learnt about it (deletion of votes), Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge and I went to the Election Commission and the Deputy Commissioner and we held a press conference.”
The MLA claimed that there was a conspiracy to defeat him. A request under Form-7 of the Election Commission was sent by someone to delete voters.
“After this, the returning officer carried out a verification to find out any discrepancy or confusion. The officer ordered a status quo. If the status quo was not maintained and 6,994 votes were deleted then I would have lost the election. This is a big issue,” he added.
He said the request was made to delete “my voters in my constituency and not other voters”.
“The attack was made on my workers and my supporters in the area where I had a stronghold. Most of the targets were minorities, scheduled caste and backward castes – the Congress vote bank,” the MLA said.
Patil said if a thorough investigation is carried out, more details would come out.
“But the investigation is not happening. I have been going to the officials, discussing with them and pursuing it,” the Congress legislator said.
He claimed that there is evidence available since the complainant is the returning officer himself, and based on his complaint, the FIR was registered.
The returning officer is part of the Election Commission. He has to answer to the complaint lodged by him, Patil underlined.
“Since the ECI is not replying, it raises doubt that they are also at fault. Who is behind it, whose conspiracy is it? It must be investigated,” the MLA said.
Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s allegation that the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is protecting those stealing votes, Patil said, “Yes. It’s true.”
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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.
