SCBA bats for Women Judges
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Saturday passed a resolution highlighting the disproportionately low representation of women in the higher judiciary. Currently, only 103 out of 1,100 High Court judgeships are held by women, with some states like Uttarakhand, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Manipur having no women judges at all. Expressing disappointment, the SCBA noted that the recent round of Supreme Court appointments did not include any women, and no woman has been appointed to the Supreme Court since 2021. The SCBA has urged the Chief Justice of India and the Collegium to prioritize gender balance in future judicial appointments.
Discontent brews in MP BJP
Discontent within Jyotiraditya Scindia’s camp came to light on Friday when former BJP MLA Raghuraj Kansana criticised the Madhya Pradesh Government for ministerial inaccessibility. Speaking at a BJP workers’ meeting in Morena, Kansana claimed that even party leaders struggled to get basic administrative work done. His comments, revealing dissatisfaction among Scindia’s loyalists, highlighted ongoing frustrations that have persisted since the 2020 defection. While Scindia has a national presence as a Union Minister, his local associates feel sidelined. The Congress has seized on these grievances, highlighting the fragile nature of Scindia’s alliance with the BJP in the state.
Yunus condemns army crackdown
Bangladesh’s interim Government and political parties condemned a violent military-police crackdown on Gano Odhikar Parishad activists in Dhaka on Friday night. The action targeted Nurul Haque Nur, leader of the opposition group linked to the 2024 student-led ‘July Uprising,’ as he attempted to hold a press conference. Police and military forces used batons and bamboo sticks to disperse the crowd, leaving Nur critically wounded. The interim Government, led by Muhammad Yunus, called the attack an assault on democracy and vowed a swift investigation. The military defended its actions, citing a zero-tolerance policy against mob violence and public unrest.
Trump drops India visit plans
US President Donald Trump reportedly no longer plans to visit India for the upcoming Quad Summit, citing deteriorating relations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, detailed tensions between the two leaders, triggered by Trump’s claims of resolving the India-Pakistan conflict, which Modi denied. A particularly tense moment occurred during a June 17 phone call, when Trump suggested Modi nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize, a request that reportedly upset the Indian leader. Trade tensions and Trump’s imposition of tariffs on India further strained the relationship, as Modi did not respond to Trump’s requests.