New Delhi: In a significant move aimed at easing the growing workload of the Supreme Court, the Narendra Modi government on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) introduced the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026in the Lok Sabha. The proposed legislation seeks to increase the sanctioned strength of judges in the apex court from 34 to 38, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
The Bill was introduced by Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, following an ordinance already promulgated by the Centre to effect the same change.
Judge Strength to Increase from 34 to 38
At present, the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act provides for 33 judges besides the Chief Justice of India, taking the total sanctioned strength to 34.
The amendment proposes increasing the number of judges other than the Chief Justice from 33 to 37. With the Chief Justice included, the Supreme Court’s total sanctioned strength would rise to 38 judges.
The increase is intended to help the apex court deal with its expanding case load and improve the speed of disposal of cases.
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No Change in Powers or Appointment Process
The proposed amendment is limited to increasing the number of judges.
It does not alter:
- The constitutional powers of the Supreme Court.
- The jurisdiction of the apex court.
- The process for appointment of judges.
- The existing judicial structure or functioning of the court.
The legislation simply revises the authorized numerical strength of judges to enable the Supreme Court to handle more cases efficiently.
Move Aimed at Reducing Judicial Burden
The Centre has maintained that increasing the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court will help address the growing burden of pending cases and improve access to timely justice.
The proposal comes amid increasing concern over judicial pendency and the expanding workload before the country’s highest court.
Court Still Operating Below Sanctioned Strength
Despite the proposal to enhance the sanctioned strength, the Supreme Court is currently functioning below even the existing authorized strength due to vacancies.
The increase in the sanctioned number of judges is expected to provide greater flexibility for future appointments as vacancies are filled, while also preparing the institution for rising litigation in the years ahead.
Once passed by Parliament, the amendment will formally raise the Supreme Court’s sanctioned judicial strength to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India.
