President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday gave her approval to the Union Cabinet's decision to increase the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 33 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI). The move is aimed at addressing the mounting backlog of cases, with over 92,000 matters currently pending before the apex court.
Ordinance Amends 1956 Act
In a post on X, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal confirmed that the ordinance amended the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956. The amendment raises the number of judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. This effectively increases the total sanctioned strength to 38, including the CJI.
Cabinet Approval and Legislative Process
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had approved the proposal on May 5. The government plans to introduce the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Parliament to formalize the increase. Under Article 124(1) of the Constitution, Parliament holds the authority to determine the number of Supreme Court judges through legislation.
Historical Context of Judge Strength Revisions
The Supreme Court's strength has been revised multiple times over the decades in response to rising caseloads. The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 initially fixed the strength at 10 judges apart from the Chief Justice. Subsequent increases occurred in 1960 (13 judges), 1977 (17 judges), 1986 (25 judges), and 2008 (30 judges). The last revision came in 2019, when Parliament raised the number of judges from 30 to 33, excluding the CJI.
Impact on Justice Delivery
The government stated that the expansion is intended to strengthen the apex court and ensure quicker delivery of justice. With the current backlog exceeding 92,000 cases, the increase in judge strength is expected to enhance the court's capacity to hear and dispose of cases more efficiently.
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