Prelim Bits 10-05-2019

Appointment of SC Judges

SC Collegium has recommended names of 4 judges to the government, thereby pushing for full strength of judges in the Supreme Court.
Article 124 of the constitution empowered the parliament to fix the upper limit for the number of judges in SC.
Accordingly, parliament passed the SC (Number of Judges) Act and fixed the strength as 1 CJI and 30 other judges as the upper limit.
Presently, if the four recommended judges are appointed, it will reach the full sanctioned strength to 31.
Appointment Process - The Chief Justice of India and the Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President under clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution.
Whenever a vacancy is expected to arise in the office of a Judge of the Supreme Court, the CJI will initiate proposal.
The recommendation will be forwarded to the Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs to fill up the vacancy.
The opinion of the CJI for appointment of a Judge of the Supreme Court should be formed in consultation with a collegium of the four senior-most Judges of the Supreme Court.
The government can disapprove the appointment of judges at the first instance and return it to collegium for reconsideration.
When collegium reiterates its recommendation, it is binding on the government.

Joint Navy Exercise

Indian Navy ships along with Japan, Philippines and the US undertook various exercise in the South China Sea.
Indian Navy Ships guided missile destroyer INS Kolkata and Fleet support ship Shakti took part in the exercise.
On return passage, Indian ships also participated in International Fleet Review (IFR) and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) off South Korea.
IFR was organised as part of the 70th Anniversary Celebration of PLA (Navy) of China.

World Customs Organisation

The 20^th Conference of the Regional Heads of Customs Administration of Asia Pacific Region of the WCO was recently organised in Kochi.
WCO established in 1952, is an independent intergovernmental body whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations.
WCO is the only international organization with competence in Customs matters.
It represents 182 Customs administrations across the globe that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade.
The organisation has divided its membership into six regions. Each of the regions is represented by an elected vice-chairperson to the WCO council.
It is considered as the voice of the International Customs community.
India has become the Vice-Chair (Regional Head) of the Asia Pacific Region of WCO for a period of two years (2018-2020).

Source: The Hindu, PIB

Prelim Bits 10-05-2019

Appointment of SC Judges, Joint Navy Exercise, World Customs Organisation

Appointment of SC Judges

SC Collegium has recommended names of 4 judges to the government, thereby pushing for full strength of judges in the Supreme Court.
Article 124 of the constitution empowered the parliament to fix the upper limit for the number of judges in SC.
Accordingly, parliament passed the SC (Number of Judges) Act and fixed the strength as 1 CJI and 30 other judges as the upper limit.
Presently, if the four recommended judges are appointed, it will reach the full sanctioned strength to 31.
Appointment Process - The Chief Justice of India and the Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President under clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution.
Whenever a vacancy is expected to arise in the office of a Judge of the Supreme Court, the CJI will initiate proposal.
The recommendation will be forwarded to the Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs to fill up the vacancy.
The opinion of the CJI for appointment of a Judge of the Supreme Court should be formed in consultation with a collegium of the four senior-most Judges of the Supreme Court.
The government can disapprove the appointment of judges at the first instance and return it to collegium for reconsideration.
When collegium reiterates its recommendation, it is binding on the government.

Joint Navy Exercise

Indian Navy ships along with Japan, Philippines and the US undertook various exercise in the South China Sea.
Indian Navy Ships guided missile destroyer INS Kolkata and Fleet support ship Shakti took part in the exercise.
On return passage, Indian ships also participated in International Fleet Review (IFR) and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) off South Korea.
IFR was organised as part of the 70th Anniversary Celebration of PLA (Navy) of China.

World Customs Organisation

The 20^th Conference of the Regional Heads of Customs Administration of Asia Pacific Region of the WCO was recently organised in Kochi.
WCO established in 1952, is an independent intergovernmental body whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations.
WCO is the only international organization with competence in Customs matters.
It represents 182 Customs administrations across the globe that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade.
The organisation has divided its membership into six regions. Each of the regions is represented by an elected vice-chairperson to the WCO council.
It is considered as the voice of the International Customs community.
India has become the Vice-Chair (Regional Head) of the Asia Pacific Region of WCO for a period of two years (2018-2020).

Source: The Hindu, PIB