Senate’s Latest Moves: Fees, Judges, and Dual Citizenship – What Could Go Wrong?

The Senate just made some “minor” tweaks to the Constitution, and boy, are they going to shake things up! Here’s what’s new, sarcastically served for your pleasure.

Filing an Appeal? You Better Have Deep Pockets

In a bid to make justice more affordable (for the super-rich, at least), the fee for filing an appeal in the Supreme Court against a High Court decision has been generously increased. Gone are the days of filing for a mere Rs 50,000. Now, you can enjoy the privilege of challenging the law for a cool Rs 10 lakh. Because nothing says “access to justice” like skyrocketing legal fees, right?

Article 187: Supreme Court Is the Only One That Matters

Apparently, no decisions will be made unless the Supreme Court itself gets involved, thanks to the amendment in Article 187. It’s a good reminder that, in case you were confused, this is their show, and the rest of the judiciary should just sit back and enjoy the ride.

High Court Judges to Get Annual Report Cards

Under the new constitutional amendment, the Supreme Judicial Commission will now play teacher and hand out annual performance reviews to High Court judges. If they fail the test, they’ll get some time to “improve” before their report is sent to the Supreme Judicial Council. Nothing like working under the threat of a bad grade to ensure impartial and fair judgments, right?

Dual Citizens? No Supreme Court for You!

Thanks to the revision in Article 177, anyone with dual citizenship can now kiss their Supreme Court dreams goodbye. Because, obviously, having ties to another country means you’re automatically unqualified to interpret the Constitution. But don’t worry, you can still apply to other jobs where dual citizenship isn’t a problem, like becoming a minister or a top-level bureaucrat!

High Court Judges: 5 Years to Prove You Deserve a Promotion

Finally, the amendment now caps the tenure of a High Court judge to five years before they can be considered for a spot in the Supreme Court. You better show off those legal chops fast, because after five years, it’s do or die. Nothing like a ticking clock to ensure the highest quality in judicial appointments!

So there you have it, folks. The Senate’s latest amendments are designed to enhance the legal system. We’re sure everything will go just perfectly!