Lok Sabha Tables Bill to Expand Supreme Court Bench to 38 Judges

Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has introduced the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha. The bill aims to raise the sanctioned judicial strength of the Supreme Court to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. This legislation formalizes a change initiated by a presidential ordinance promulgated on May 16, 2026, which temporarily increased the court’s strength from 33 to 37 judges. The move serves as a direct legislative effort to augment the court’s capacity in response to persistent staffing shortages.

The primary driver for this increase is the significant backlog of cases. As of April 30, 2026, the Supreme Court recorded a pendency of 92,823 cases, a figure that has steadily climbed since the start of the year. During 2025, the court registered 75,410 new cases while disposing of only 65,615. Officials emphasize that adding more judges is essential to facilitate more frequent Constitution Benches and to improve overall judicial efficiency. The last time the bench size was adjusted was in 2019, when the limit was raised from 30 to 33 judges.

The introduction of the bill faced significant opposition. Members from the TMC, RSP, and Congress moved statutory resolutions to disapprove the earlier ordinance, citing broader national issues such as the NEET paper leak and temple management allegations. The government estimates an initial investment of approximately ₹14.04 crore to cover vehicles, residences, and support staff for the new judges, with ₹10.56 crore earmarked for annual recurring expenditures. Despite the contentious floor proceedings, the government aims to prioritize the passage of this bill to stabilize judicial capacity during the ongoing Monsoon Session.