Bill Introduced in Lok Sabha to Increase Supreme Court Judge Strength to 38
In a significant move aimed at strengthening India’s judicial system, the Union Government has introduced the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha. Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal tabled the legislation during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, seeking to formally increase the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 34 judges (including the Chief Justice of India) to 38 judges.
The Bill proposes raising the number of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. Including the CJI, the apex court’s total sanctioned strength would become 38 judges. The legislation replaces an ordinance promulgated earlier this year to bring the increase into immediate effect.
The government has justified the expansion by pointing to the ever-growing burden of litigation before the country’s highest court. With thousands of civil, criminal and constitutional matters pending, increasing the number of judges is expected to improve the Court’s ability to hear cases more efficiently, reduce delays, and enhance access to timely justice.
Under Article 124 of the Constitution, Parliament has the authority to determine the strength of the Supreme Court through legislation. The proposed amendment updates the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, reflecting the increasing workload of the judiciary and the need for greater judicial capacity.
This is the first increase in the Supreme Court’s sanctioned strength since 2019, when Parliament expanded the number of judges from 30 to 33 (excluding the Chief Justice). The latest proposal adds four more judicial positions, marking another major institutional reform aimed at addressing the mounting backlog of cases.
Legal experts believe that while increasing the number of judges is an important step, it is not a complete solution to the pendency crisis. They argue that judicial vacancies must be filled promptly, court infrastructure strengthened, technology adoption accelerated, and procedural reforms implemented alongside the increase in judicial strength to achieve lasting improvements in the justice delivery system.
The Bill will now undergo parliamentary scrutiny before being considered for passage by both Houses. Once enacted, it will provide the legal framework for appointing the additional judges and is expected to further bolster the Supreme Court’s capacity to deal with India’s expanding caseload.
