Cabinet clears Supreme Court judges' strength hike from 33 to 37
Synopsis
The Union Cabinet has cleared a Bill to raise the Supreme Court's judge strength from 33 to 37 — the sixth such revision since 1950 and the first since 2019. With judicial pendency a persistent crisis, the move could unlock faster hearings, but the real test lies in how quickly vacancies are actually filled through the collegium process.
Key Takeaways
The Union Cabinet on 5 May 2026 approved the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 .
The Bill proposes raising the sanctioned judge strength from 33 to 37 , excluding the Chief Justice of India .
This is the sixth revision to the Supreme Court's sanctioned strength since the original cap of 10 judges at independence.
The last revision was in 2019 , when strength was raised from 30 to 33 .
All financial costs — salaries, staff, infrastructure — will be drawn from the Consolidated Fund of India .
The Bill is expected to be introduced in the upcoming session of Parliament .
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday, 5 May 2026, approved the introduction of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, in Parliament, proposing to raise the sanctioned strength of judges at the apex court from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India (CJI). The move is aimed at improving judicial efficiency and reducing the mounting backlog of cases.
What the Bill Proposes
The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, by adding four new judge positions to the existing sanctioned strength. According to an official government statement, the expansion is intended to enable the Supreme Court to handle cases more effectively and ensure the expeditious delivery of justice to litigants. The financial implications — covering salaries, support staff, and related infrastructure — will be met from the Consolidated Fund of India.
Constitutional Basis and Historical Context
The proposal traces its origins to Article 124(1) of the Constitution, which empowers Parliament to prescribe the number of Supreme Court judges by law. The sanctioned strength of the apex court has been revised multiple times since independence. Initially capped at 10 judges (excluding the CJI), the number was raised to 13 in 1960 and further to 17 in 1977. Subsequent revisions took the count to 25 in 1986 and 30 in 2008. The most recent increase, from 30 to 33, came in 2019. The current proposal marks the sixth such revision in the court's history.
The Case for Expansion
India's judiciary has long grappled with a severe pendency crisis. The Supreme Court carries a significant caseload, and the addition of four judges is expected to allow for the constitution of more benches, thereby accelerating the hearing of matters — particularly constitutional and criminal appeals that have languished for years. The government's statement underscored that the expansion would directly benefit litigants awaiting timely justice.
What Happens Next
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 is expected to be introduced in the upcoming session of Parliament. Once passed, the Centre will proceed to fill the newly created vacancies through the collegium process. The additional judicial appointments, once made, will also require corresponding expansion of court infrastructure and support staff at the apex court's New Delhi premises.
Point of View
Often contested collegium process. Four additional positions will mean little if vacancies remain unfilled for months after Parliament passes the Bill. The government deserves credit for moving the legislation, but the measure of success will be the speed of appointments, not the arithmetic of the amendment.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026?
It is a legislation approved by the Union Cabinet on 5 May 2026 that proposes to increase the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. The Bill amends the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, and is expected to be introduced in the upcoming Parliament session.
Why is the government increasing the number of Supreme Court judges?
The government states the expansion is aimed at improving the efficiency and functioning of the Supreme Court and reducing the pendency of cases, ensuring timely justice to litigants. Additional judges will allow more benches to be constituted, enabling faster hearing of matters.
How many times has the Supreme Court's judge strength been revised?
This will be the sixth revision. The strength was originally capped at 10 (excluding the CJI), then raised to 13 in 1960, 17 in 1977, 25 in 1986, 30 in 2008, and 33 in 2019. The current Bill proposes raising it to 37.
Who will bear the cost of the additional judges and infrastructure?
All financial implications arising from the expansion — including salaries of the new judges, support staff, and related infrastructure — will be met from the Consolidated Fund of India, according to the official government statement.
When will the new judges be appointed after the Bill is passed?
The Bill must first be introduced and passed in Parliament. Once enacted, vacancies for the four new positions will be filled through the Supreme Court collegium process, the timeline for which has not been specified by the government.
