Bengaluru (PTI): Kannada film director Guruprasad was found hanging in a residential complex in the outskirts of the city on Sunday, police said.

The 52-year-old director is suspected to have died by suicide. The incident occured in Madanayakanahalli police station limits.

"Film maker Guruprasad was said to be upset about something, about his film or some other issue. We have heard that he was facing financial stress... five to six days back, neighbours had seen him coming to this house, after that he had apparently not stepped out. It appears that he hanged himself five to six days back and died," CK Baba, Superintendent of Police (SP), Bengaluru Rural said.

Briefing reporters, he said, "... after seeing the body, we have registered the case and we will investigate the matter."

Guruprasad was known for his films -- Mata, Yeddelu Manjunatha among others.

According to police sources, the body was found in a decomposed state hanging from a ceiling fan in the flat, and neighbours alerted the police after foul smell emanated from the house.

The body has been shifted for post-mortem, they said.

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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The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, as originally enacted in 1956, put the maximum number of judges (excluding the CJI) at 10.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.