Centre introduces Bill to raise Supreme Court Judge strength to 38

The Central government has introduced the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha to increase the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court from 33 to 37 judges, excluding the Chief Justice of India (CJI). With the CJI included, the court's total sanctioned strength will rise from 34 to 38 judges. The Bill seeks to replace an ordinance promulgated by the Centre in May this year.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal tabled the Bill on the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The government said the move is aimed at improving the Supreme Court's efficiency and reducing the growing backlog of pending cases by allowing more benches to function simultaneously.

The proposal comes as India's top court continues to handle a large volume of cases, with judicial vacancies and increasing litigation placing pressure on the system. While legal experts believe additional judges could help speed up case disposal, they also note that broader judicial reforms and timely appointments will be necessary to significantly reduce pendency. Once passed by Parliament, the Bill will replace the ordinance and formally amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.