Lok Sabha passes bill to raise Supreme Court judges’ strength to 38
The Lok Sabha passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, raising the sanctioned strength of judges from 34 to 38, including the Chief Justice of India.
The Bill replaces an ordinance promulgated in May and was passed by a voice vote amid Opposition protests.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Bill, citing a rising backlog of cases before the Supreme Court.
More than 96,000 cases are currently pending in the Supreme Court, with 26 cases unresolved for over 30 years and 558 pending for more than two decades.
The government expects the four additional judges to enable more Benches, helping clear fresh and long-pending cases, including Constitution Bench matters.
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Hindustan Times
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