Lok Sabha Takes Up Supreme Court Amendment Bill to Boost Judge Strength to 38 Amid High Drama
The Lower House of Parliament witnessed a heated legislative session as Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal officially introduced the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026. The crucial piece of legislation is designed to formally replace the executive ordinance promulgated earlier in May, which expanded the top court's total sanctioned capacity from 34 to 38 judges (including the Chief Justice of India).
The introduction of the bill triggered intense political friction on the floor. While the government defended the expansion as an urgent necessity to clear systemic backlogs, proceedings were heavily disrupted by opposition members raising slogans over separate contentious nationwide issues.
Mounting Case Backlogs: According to official data presented with the bill, pendency in the apex court crossed 92,000 cases at the start of the year, driven by a consistent gap where fresh filings continually outpace total clearances.
Constitution Benches: The government emphasized that an increased judicial headcount will empower the Chief Justice of India to regularly constitute larger Constitution Benches to hear complex matters involving substantial questions of law.
Financial Allocation: The accompanying financial memorandum estimates an initial investment of roughly ₹14.04 crore to cover infrastructure, official vehicles, residences, and recurring staff salaries for the four new judicial offices.
According to legislative updates from [The Hindu], the bill requires only a simple majority to pass and does not necessitate a constitutional amendment.
