New Delhi: India’s judicial system may soon see faster movement in important constitutional matters as CJI Surya Kant announced plans to constitute 7-judge benches in the Supreme Court. The statement came during a court hearing on May 19, 2026, and has drawn attention across the legal community because several major constitutional references are still pending before larger benches.
Supreme Court 7-Judge Benches Plan: What Did CJI Surya Kant Say?
According to a report by , Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said that the Supreme Court would soon create 7-judge benches to hear pending references.
The CJI made the observation while adjourning a matter before the court. He indicated that once these larger benches are formed, his time may be occupied with hearing those constitutional matters.
Why is Supreme Court 7-Judge Benches Plan Important?
In the Indian judicial system, larger constitutional benches are formed to decide:
- Important constitutional questions
- Conflicts between earlier Supreme Court judgments
- Issues involving interpretation of fundamental rights
- Matters affecting national legal policy
A 7-judge bench is considered highly significant because such benches usually hear cases with long-term constitutional impact.
Pending Cases Before Larger Benches
The development comes after the Supreme Court recently completed hearings in two major 9-judge bench matters:
- The “industry definition” case
- The Sabarimala Temple Entry Issue reference matter
Reports state that the “industry definition” hearing concluded in March 2026, while the Sabarimala matter concluded last week.
With those hearings completed, the Supreme Court now appears ready to focus on matters pending before 7-judge benches.
How Many Cases Are Pending?
As per data mentioned in the report and sourced from the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG):
- 5 major matters are pending before 7-judge benches
- These matters reportedly involve 34 connected appeals
This indicates that several important legal questions are still awaiting final constitutional interpretation by the apex court.
Recent Judicial Developments Under CJI Surya Kant
Since becoming the 53rd Chief Justice of India in November 2025, Surya Kant has been involved in several key judicial and administrative developments.
Recent reports indicate:
- The Supreme Court has emphasized judicial reforms and infrastructure modernization
- Discussions are ongoing regarding increasing judicial efficiency and reducing pendency
- The apex court has recently dealt with several constitutional and public policy matters involving national importance
Read also: CJI Surya Kant Launches Major Mission to Modernize Indian Courts With ₹50,000 Crore Fund
