Lok Sabha to consider bill raising SC judges to 38

The Lok Sabha is scheduled to consider and pass a bill on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, that would formally increase the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. The Supreme Court Number of Judges Amendment Bill, 2026, introduced by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on July 20, seeks to replace an ordinance promulgated on May 16 that had already implemented the increase.

The government has stated the measure is necessary to address a significant backlog of cases. According to official data cited in the bill, 92,101 cases were pending before the Supreme Court as of January 1, 2026. The government noted that despite the court operating at its previous sanctioned strength, the inflow of new cases has consistently outpaced disposals, widening the pendency gap. Officials argue that adding judges is a practical step to improve judicial capacity, enabling the constitution of more Constitution Benches for major legal questions while other benches handle routine matters.

The legislative action follows the Union Cabinet's approval of the proposal in May and the subsequent appointment of five new judges in early June under the...