The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the introduction of The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, on May 5, 2026. This legislative move seeks to amend The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to increase the sanctioned strength of judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India (CJI). The primary objective of this expansion is to enable the apex court to function more effectively and address the backlog of cases, thereby ensuring speedier justice for citizens.
The expenditure required for the salaries of the additional judges, supporting staff, and associated facilities will be drawn from the Consolidated Fund of India. This increase follows a historical trajectory of periodic expansions, the most recent being in 2019, when the strength was raised from 30 to 33. The proposed bill aligns with Article 124 (1) of the Constitution, which empowers Parliament to prescribe the number of judges in the Supreme Court.
Key Legislative and Financial Benchmarks
New Proposed Strength: 37 Judges (excluding the CJI).
Previous Strength: 33 Judges (established in 2019).
Funding Source: Salaries and facilities are met from the Consolidated Fund of India.
Historical Milestone: The original 1956 Act initially provided for only 10 Judges.
Constitutional Authority: Derived from Article 124 (1), which originally set a limit of seven judges until Parliament intervened.
What is the "Consolidated Fund of India"?
The Consolidated Fund of India is the primary account of the Government of India where all revenues received, loans raised, and all money received in repayment of loans are credited. Under the Constitution, no money can be withdrawn from this fund without the authorization of Parliament. Salaries for "Constitutional" positions—including Judges of the Supreme Court—are "charged" upon this fund, meaning they are not subject to an annual vote in Parliament, ensuring the financial independence of the judiciary.
Policy Relevance
Reducing Judicial Pendency: Increasing the number of benches allows the Supreme Court to hear more cases simultaneously, directly addressing the high volume of pending litigation.
Speedy Justice: A higher judge-to-population ratio at the apex level is a critical step toward fulfilling the citizen's right to timely legal recourse.
Constitutional Benches Strengthening: More judges provide the flexibility to form multiple Constitution Benches (five or more judges) to settle significant legal questions without halting regular appellate work.
Institutional Growth: The expansion reflects the growing complexity and workload of the Indian judiciary in a rapidly evolving legal and economic landscape.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can increases in judicial strength be matched with procedural and administrative reforms to reduce pendency more effectively?
Follow the Full News Here: Cabinet approves increase in the Judge strength of the Supreme Court of India by Four to 37 from 33