Nepal President Paudel urges all sides to cooperate in conducting parliamentary elections on March 5
Kathmandu (PTI): Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel on Saturday called on all sides to cooperate in conducting fresh elections to the House of Representatives that are to be held on March 5, following a week of violent protests that led to the resignation of K P Sharma Oli and Sushila Karki taking over as the country’s first woman prime minister.
The president in a statement urged all to utilise the “hard earned opportunity for conducting the election on time by safeguarding the interests of the people and maintaining self-discipline”.
“A peaceful way out was possible for the country only after passing through a very crucial, tough and dangerous situation,” he said.
Paudel said that the constitution and parliamentary system are saved and the federal democratic republic is intact.
“The people have got an opportunity to move forward in the path of a progressive democracy through holding elections to the House of Representatives within six months,” President Paudel said in the statement.
On Friday, President Paudel dissolved the House of Representatives on the recommendation of the newly-appointed prime minister and said the next parliamentary election would be held on March 5.
Former Chief Justice Karki, 73, was sworn-in as the country’s first woman prime minister, ending days of political uncertainty after the abrupt resignation of Oli this week following wide-spread anti-government protests against a ban on social media and alleged corruption.
Oli quit on Tuesday shortly after hundreds of agitators entered his office demanding his resignation for the death of at least 19 people in police action during Monday's protests.
The prime minister will form a small Cabinet on Sunday, two days after her swearing-in ceremony, as offices are closed on Saturday.
Karki will hold some two dozen ministries, including Home, Foreign Affairs and Defence.
Sources at the President’s Office said that the prime minister will form a council of ministers with the inclusion of a small number of ministers on Sunday, when she will assume office.
As the Prime Minister’s Office in Singhdurbar Secretariat was set on fire during the two-day agitation, the newly-constructed building for the Home Ministry within the Singhdurbar complex is being prepared for the Prime Minister’s Office, according to government sources.
Removing the ashes and cleaning are being done in the surrounding areas of the building to shift the Prime Minister’s Office there.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Karki on Saturday visited the Civil Hospital in Baneshwor area of Kathmandu where dozens of people injured during the agitation are undergoing treatment.
Nepal's major political parties and apex lawyers' body have strongly criticised the president's decision to dissolve Parliament, describing the move as "unconstitutional", "arbitrary" and a serious blow to democracy
The chief whips of the dissolved House of Representatives have issued a joint statement opposing the dissolution of the Parliament.
Nepal police on Friday said that at least 51 people, including an Indian national, died in the 'Gen Z'-led protests.
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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.
