New Delhi: In a significant move to tackle the mounting backlog of cases, the Lok Sabha on Monday passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, paving the way to increase the strength of the apex court from 33 to 37 judges, excluding the Chief Justice of India.
The legislation amends the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, and follows an ordinance promulgated by President Droupadi Murmu in May this year. Moving the bill, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the step reflects the government's mantra of Reform, Perform and Transform under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, and is aimed at strengthening judicial capacity and ensuring timely justice.
The minister noted that the Supreme Court faces a persistent gap between institution and disposal of cases. As of January 1, over 92,000 cases were pending. In 2025 alone, the court saw 75,410 fresh matters against disposals of just over 65,000 cases. The increase in judge strength, Meghwal said, is a viable solution to expedite hearings, clear older matters, and improve docket management.
The House adjourned till 11 am Tuesday after passing the bill, which marks a milestone in judicial reform.