- In a significant move to strengthen the judicial capacity of the Supreme Court, the Lok Sabha passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, without discussion.
- The Bill aims to alleviate the mounting caseload of the apex court and increase the number of judges to facilitate the speedy disposal of cases.
- Under the provisions of the Bill, the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court will be raised from 34 to 38, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
- This is expected to enhance the operational efficiency of the apex court and accelerate the resolution of pending cases.
- The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 20, 2026; the Union Cabinet had previously approved the proposal in May 2026.
- The new legislation will replace the ordinance issued in May 2026, which had increased the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges (excluding the Chief Justice) from 33 to 37.
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