The Union Cabinet on Thursday approval a proposal to introduce a bill in Parliament to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 so that the number of judges in the apex court could be increased by five from existing 25 to 30, plus the Chief Justice. The decision was taken by the Cabinet at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

“The increase in the number of judges will allow the Supreme Court to function more efficiently and effectively towards attaining the ultimate goal of rendering speedy justice to the litigant public,” official sources said after the meeting. The last time the number of judges in the apex court was increased was in 1986, when it went up from 18 to 25 plus the Chief Justice of India. The need to increase the number now was felt because of the high pendancy rate of cases, with around 47,000 cases pending as in January.

‘children can testify TOO’

New Delhi, dhns: The Supreme Court on Thursday said that the evidence given by a child should be taken seriously, as there is no mention in the law that a witness should always be an adult.

A child of tender age can be allowed to testify if he has intellectual capacity to understand questions and gives rational answers thereto, said the Judges while upholding the conviction of Nivrutti Pandurang Kokate and others in the murder of Misal on the intervening night of July 9-10, 1998. Misal’s 12-year-old daughter had deposed that her mother and others had murdered her father who was sleeping in the residence of his brother.

Misal’s wife Ranjana, her two paramours and her son killed him and buried the body in the farm field near the house. The appellants had submitted before the court that no credence should have been attached to the evidence submitted by the child. However, the court said there was no doubt in not believing in the deposition of the girl who gave graphic details on the murder and the disposal of the body by her mother and other convicts.