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Cabinet Approves Bill to Increase Supreme Court Judges' Strength to 37

The Union Cabinet has approved the Supreme Court Amendment Bill 2026 to increase judge strength from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. The move aims to enhance the court's efficiency and reduce case pendency for timely justice. The amendment requires changes to the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, with financial implications from the Consolidated Fund of India. The Bill will be introduced in the upcoming Parliament session.

Key Points: Supreme Court Judges' Strength to Rise to 37: Cabinet Clears Bill

  • Cabinet approves Supreme Court Amendment Bill 2026
  • Judge strength to increase from 33 to 37 excluding CJI
  • Move aims to reduce case pendency and improve efficiency
  • Bill will be introduced in upcoming Parliament session
2 min read

Cabinet clears proposal to increase Supreme Court judges' strength

Union Cabinet approves Supreme Court Amendment Bill 2026 to increase judge strength from 33 to 37, excluding CJI, aiming to reduce pendency and improve justice delivery.

"The increase in the number of judges will enable the Supreme Court to deal with cases more effectively and reduce pendency, thereby ensuring timely justice to litigants - Government official statement"

New Delhi, May 5

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the introduction of the Supreme Court Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Parliament to increase the sanctioned strength of judges in the apex court.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, enhancing the number of judges from the present 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India (CJI).

According to an official statement, the move is aimed at improving the efficiency and functioning of the Supreme Court while ensuring the expeditious delivery of justice.

"The increase in the number of judges will enable the Supreme Court to deal with cases more effectively and reduce pendency, thereby ensuring timely justice to litigants," the government said.

The financial implications arising out of the expansion, including salaries of judges, support staff, and related infrastructure, will be met from the Consolidated Fund of India.

The proposal traces its origins to Article 124(1) of the Constitution, which provides that the Supreme Court shall consist of a Chief Justice of India and such number of judges as Parliament may by law prescribe. The strength of the apex court has been revised periodically through amendments to the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956. Initially capped at 10 judges (excluding the Chief Justice of India), the number was increased to 13 in 1960 and further to 17 in 1977. The sanctioned strength was subsequently raised to 25 in 1986 and to 30 in 2008.

The most recent revision came in 2019, when the number was increased from 30 to 33.

The Bill is expected to be introduced in the upcoming session of Parliament.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Finally some action! Justice delayed is justice denied, and the backlog is ridiculous. I only hope the appointments are based on merit and not political considerations. We need the best legal minds in the apex court. 🙏
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Sarah B
As someone who follows Indian legal affairs, this is a modest but necessary increase. 4 judges is a drop in the ocean given the caseload. I hope the government also considers the need for more trial courts and fast-track courts in the states. The problem isn't just at the top.
H
Harsh A
Happy with the decision but not fully satisfied. While 4 more judges will help, we need a comprehensive judicial reforms package. The collegium system needs reform too—appointments take too long. Still, a good first step. 👏
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Naveen S
I wonder if this is enough. The Supreme Court has over 70,000 pending cases. Adding 4 judges means each new judge will have to clear about 17,500 cases just to break even. We need more than just numbers—better court management, IT integration, and perhaps separate benches for routine matters.
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Ananya R
This is a welcome move but I hope the government doesn't use this as an excuse to pack the court with loyalists. The independence of the judiciary must be protected. Let's hope the appointments are transparent and the process is followed properly. 🤞

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