Parliament has passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, paving the way for increasing the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court of India from 33 to 37 judges, excluding the Chief Justice of India (CJI). The legislation aims to strengthen the country’s judicial system by enabling faster disposal of pending cases and improving access to justice.
The Bill, which received approval from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, replaces the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026 issued earlier this year. With the amendment, the total sanctioned strength of the apex court will rise to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India.
Objective of the Amendment
The government stated that the increase in judicial strength has become necessary due to the growing number of pending cases before the Supreme Court.
According to the Ministry of Law and Justice, the additional four judges are expected to:
- Reduce case pendency.
- Speed up hearings.
- Improve access to justice.
- Strengthen constitutional benches.
- Enhance overall judicial efficiency.
Officials said the move is part of the government’s broader judicial reform agenda aimed at improving the delivery of justice.
Discussion in Parliament
During the parliamentary debate, the government argued that the Supreme Court’s increasing workload requires additional judicial capacity to ensure timely resolution of civil, criminal, and constitutional matters.
Several members also highlighted the need to strengthen the entire judicial system by:
- Filling vacancies in High Courts.
- Modernising court infrastructure.
- Expanding digital courts.
- Improving case management systems.
Legal experts welcomed the move but noted that increasing the number of judges alone may not completely resolve judicial delays without wider structural reforms.
Addressing Case Backlog
The Supreme Court continues to handle tens of thousands of pending cases, placing considerable pressure on existing judicial resources.
The increase in sanctioned strength is expected to:
- Constitute more regular benches.
- Enable quicker listing of matters.
- Improve disposal rates.
- Reduce waiting periods for litigants.
Experts believe the additional judges will particularly benefit constitutional matters and long-pending appeals.
Implementation Process
Following Parliament’s approval, the government will initiate the appointment process for the additional judicial positions through the constitutional collegium system.
Appointments will be made in accordance with the established procedure involving recommendations from the Supreme Court Collegium and approval by the President of India.
Looking Ahead
The government expressed confidence that expanding the Supreme Court’s strength will improve judicial efficiency and support faster delivery of justice.
Officials also indicated that reforms related to digital courts, judicial infrastructure, and appointment processes will continue alongside efforts to reduce pendency across all levels of the judiciary.
Source: Parliament of India, Ministry of Law & Justice, and official parliamentary proceedings.
Original Report: Parliament passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, increasing the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37 (excluding the Chief Justice of India).
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