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