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CJI Welcomes Centre’s Move to Increase Supreme Court Judges’ Strength to 38

The Centre has decided to increase the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 38, including the CJI. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant welcomed the move, highlighting the need to address rising case pendency. He emphasized the importance of a dedicated Constitutional Bench for timely disposal of pending matters. The Union Cabinet has approved the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, to facilitate this change.

Key Points: Supreme Court Judges Strength to Rise to 38: CJI Welcomes Move

  • CJI Surya Kant welcomes Centre's decision
  • Strength to increase from 33 to 38 judges
  • Move aims to address rising case pendency
  • Dedicated Constitutional Bench to function continuously
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CJI Surya Kant welcomes Centre's move to raise Supreme Court judges' strength to 38

CJI Surya Kant welcomes Centre’s decision to increase Supreme Court judges from 33 to 38, aiming to reduce case pendency and ensure faster Constitution Bench hearings.

"The total volume of pending cases in the Supreme Court...has increased significantly. - CJI Surya Kant"

New Delhi, May 7

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Wednesday welcomed the Union Government's decision to increase the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 33 to 38 judges, including the CJI, saying the move would help address the rising pendency of cases and ensure faster disposal of matters requiring Constitution Bench hearings.

Justice Surya Kant told reporters, "The total volume of pending cases in the Supreme Court, as well as the rate at which new cases are being filed, which has been consistently rising year after year, has increased significantly. Keeping this in mind, the Central Government has decided to increase the strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges. A legislative provision will be enacted to facilitate this, and I am confident that this will happen very soon."

He added, "There is indeed a need for additional judges in the Supreme Court at this moment, as several matters requiring a Constitutional Bench are currently pending before the Court. To ensure the timely disposal of these specific matters, I believe it is essential that a dedicated Constitutional Bench functions continuously."

Expressing gratitude towards the Centre, the CJI said, "On behalf of the Supreme Court, I would like to express my gratitude to the Central Government. If the law is amended to increase the number of judges, it will certainly expedite the resolution of the pending issues currently awaiting a Constitutional Bench."

Earlier, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal for increasing the number of Supreme Court Judges by four from the present 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India.

The Union Cabinet approved the proposal to introduce the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, in Parliament to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, for increasing the number of Judges of the Supreme Court of India by four from the present 33 to 37.

Briefing reporters on the decisions of the Union Cabinet, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the increase in the number of Judges will allow the Supreme Court to function more efficiently and effectively, ensuring speedy justice.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good step, but the real issue is backlog—adding 4 judges won't magically clear 10 years of pending cases. We need more infrastructure and faster processes too. But yes, better late than never!
R
Rohit P
CJI Surya Kant's reaction is spot on—dedicated constitutional benches are crucial for cases that define our laws. Hopefully, the government will also fill vacancies quickly and not let this be a token gesture.
S
Sneha F
While I appreciate the move, I'm a bit skeptical. Will these judges be appointed transparently? We've seen delays in appointments before. 🤔 Let's hope the process is swift and merit-based.
V
Vikram M
Great news! More judges means more attention to constitutional matters. I just wish this had happened years ago—our judiciary is overburdened. Kudos to Modi ji and the cabinet for listening.
K
Kavya N
Let's be honest: 4 extra judges is a drop in the ocean. But it's a start. The pendency is 70,000+ cases! We need tech and case management reforms more than just numbers. Still, better than nothing.
J
James A
As an outsider looking in, this seems like a positive step for India's judicial efficiency. Constitutional bench matters are critical for

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