COVID-19: Death toll crosses 12,000 mark in Karnataka, 1,152 new cases, 15 deaths
Dakshina Kannada records 34 positive Covid-19 cases
Bengaluru, Dec 19: The death toll due to COVID-19 in Karnataka has crossed the 12,000 mark, as the state reported 1,152 new cases and 15 related fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 9,08,275, the health department said on Saturday.
A total of over 1,29,37,540 samples have been tested so far, out of which 1,15,150 were tested today alone, and 12,900 among them were rapid antigen tests.
The day also saw 2,147 patients getting discharged after recovery.
Out of 1,152 fresh cases reported on Saturday, 586 cases were from Bengaluru urban alone.
As of December 19 evening, cumulatively 9,08,275 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 12,004 deaths and 8,81,882 discharges, the health department said in its bulletin.
It said, out of 14,370 active cases,14,147 patients are in isolation at designated hospitals and stable, while 223 are in ICU.
According to the bulletin, 10 out of the total 15 deaths reported today are from Bengaluru urban, followed by Ballari, Bengaluru Rural, Chamarajanagara, Udupi and Uttara Kannada (1).
Most among those dead are with a history of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI).
Among the districts where the new cases were reported, Bengaluru urban accounted for 586, Mysuru 66, Kalaburagi 50, Dakshina Kannada 34, Bengaluru Rural 31, Mandya and Shivamogga 30, followed by others.
Bengaluru urban district tops the list of positive cases, with a total of 3,82,209 infections, followed by Mysuru 51,732 and Ballari 38,633.
Among discharges too Bengaluru urban tops the list with total 3,68,502 discharges, followed by Mysuru 50,341 and Ballari 37,813.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
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.
