Mumbai, May 15: A police constable who was part of the security detail posted at cricketer Sachin Tendulkar's residence here allegedly committed suicide at his hometown in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district on Wednesday, an official said.
Prakash Govind Kapade (39), who was attached to the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), shot himself using his service revolver in the early hours, said the police official.
Kapade had arrived at his hometown Jamner with his family last week.
As per the preliminary probe, he got up around 1.30 am and shot himself in the head, the official said.
Others in the house woke up hearing the gunshot and found him lying in a pool of blood.
Kapade was rushed to hospital but was declared dead before arrival, the official said.
A team of Jamner police visited the house after the incident. No suicide note was found from the spot, the official added.
Kapade had joined the SRPF 15 years ago and was currently serving with the Special Protection Unit (SPU) of Maharashtra Police on deputation.
He had been posted at Sachin Tendulkar's residence in Bandra last year, the official said.
The reason for suicide was yet to be ascertained, he said, adding that probe was on.
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New Delhi (PTI): The government has promulgated an ordinance to increase the strength of the Supreme Court from the present 34 judges to 38, including the Chief Justice of India.
The law ministry notified the ordinance on Saturday, which amended the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to increase the sanctioned strength of the top court.
So far, the sanctioned strength of the top court was 34, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI). Now, the number of judges has been increased by four, taking the sanctioned strength to 38.
The top court will now have 37 judges, other than the CJI.
With the apex court having two vacancies at present, and the ordinance coming into force immediately, the Supreme Court Collegium will now have to recommend six names for appointment as judges in the top court.
A bill will be brought in the Monsoon Session of Parliament to convert the ordinance – an executive order – into a law passed by Parliament.
The Union Cabinet had cleared a draft bill on May 5 to increase the number of apex court judges.
The strength of the Supreme Court was last increased from 30 to 33 (excluding the CJI) in 2019.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, as originally enacted in 1956, put the maximum number of judges (excluding the CJI) at 10.
This number was increased to 13 by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges), Amendment Act, 1960, and to 17 by another amendment to the law.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 1986, augmented the strength of judges from 17 to 25, excluding the CJI.
A fresh amendment in 2009 further increased the strength from 25 to 30.
Article 124(3) of the Constitution lists the qualifications required to become a Supreme Court judge.
An Indian citizen who has either served as a high court judge for at least five years, or as an advocate for 10 years, or is a distinguished jurist, can be appointed to the top court.
The strength of the Supreme Court is increased based on the recommendations of the CJI, who writes to the Union law minister. After consulting the finance ministry, the Department of Justice under the law ministry moves the Cabinet with a draft bill.
