Tejasvi Surya announces Rs 10 Lakh support for families of Pahalgam attack victims from Karnataka
Bengaluru, Apr 28: BJP Yuva Morcha National President and Member of Parliament Tejasvi Surya announced that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will provide financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of Bharat Bhushan and Manjunath, who lost their lives in the recent terrorist attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking at a press conference held at the BJP office on Monday, Surya criticised the Congress-led state government for its alleged indifference towards the victims' families. He said that if the state government had shown any sense of humanity, it would have offered at least Rs 1 crore to the bereaved families.
Highlighting the importance of long-term support, Surya pointed out that if the BJP’s financial assistance was deposited in a fixed deposit, the interest generated could support the education and livelihood of the victims' families. He also recalled that the Chief Minister had earlier granted Rs 15 lakh to families affected by an elephant stampede in a neighbouring state and questioned why a higher compensation was not considered for victims of terrorism from Karnataka.
Accusing the Congress party of appeasement politics, Surya said, "We cannot expect more from a party that has sold itself for the Muslim vote." He further urged Hindu society to stand by the victims' families during this difficult time.
Surya also informed that a candlelight march had been organised in Bengaluru South to condemn the terrorist attack. During the event, he had appealed for donations to support the families, suggesting that one rupee more should be collected than the state government’s compensation. He shared that people had already contributed around Rs 20 lakh towards this cause.
On the matter of education, Surya said that RV University had responded positively to his request for assistance. The university has agreed to bear the entire educational expenses of Abhijaya, the son of the late Manjunath, for his B.Com and postgraduate studies. "A formal letter from RV University has been addressed to Pallavi Manjunath, and I will personally deliver it to her," he added.
In solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Hindu society of Bengaluru South today has come forward to support the families of Late Shri Manjunath Rao and Late Shri Bharat Bhushan, on my appeal :
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) April 28, 2025
1. ₹10,00,001/- each is being given to both families. ₹1… pic.twitter.com/zyhjdNOi41
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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.
