POCSO case: Truth will come out from court; Siddaramaiah will get befitting reply, says Yediyurappa
Mysuru (PTI): Responding to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's statement asking him to retire from public life as he is an accused in a POCSO Act case, veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa on Friday said the truth will come out when the court decides on the case, and the former will get a befitting reply.
The former chief minister hit back at Siddaramaiah stating that the time for him to retire and go home is approaching, pointing at the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment 'scam'.
"He (Siddaramaih) has to say such things. The time for him to retire and go home is approaching, it is natural for him to say such things about others.
"Who will retire, who will not, we will get to know in the days ahead, when the case is decided by the court in a few days. Let's decide who will retire after that," Yediyurappa said in response to a question.
Speaking to reporters here, the 81-year-old leader said, "Truth will come out once the court decides (on the case against me). I won't say anything until then. I feel that after the court order Siddaramaih will get a befitting reply. He is speaking whatever he feels like, let him speak, he has time. People will give him a befitting reply."
Questioning Yediyurappa's "moral right" to demand his resignation in connection with the MUDA site allotment 'scam', Siddaramaiah on Wednesday had urged that the former should retire from public life as he is an accused in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case.
The case was registered on March 14 this year based on a complaint by the mother of a 17-year-old girl who alleged that Yediyurappa sexually assaulted her daughter during a meeting on February two, at his residence in Dollars Colony in Bengaluru.
The Criminal Investigation Department, which is probing the case, on June 27 filed a charge-sheet against him at the Fast Track Court.
Opposition BJP and JD(S) are on a week-long Bengaluru-Mysuru padayatre (foot march) demanding Siddaramaih's resignation in connection with the alleged fraudulent allotment of sites to land losers by MUDA, including to Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathi.
They are scheduled to conclude their protest march on Saturday by holding a mega rally on reaching Mysuru.
A mega convention will be held tomorrow as the padayatre led by state BJP President B Y Vijayendra is reaching Mysuru. The padayatre has got a good response from the people all along, and to "root out this corrupt government", this programme is being held, Yediyurappa said.
"There is a good response beyond our expectation. Public anger against this government is being expressed everywhere. Let's wait and see what will happen in the future," the BJP veteran said.
Accusing Siddaramaiah of getting allotted to his wife a number of "costly" MUDA sites, Yediyurappa, in response to a question about CM's statement that he has done no wrong to resign, said, "the corruption has reached its peak in this government, what he (Siddaramaiah) has done is an unpardonable offence, so we are fighting against it."
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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.
