Cabinet Clears Move to Raise SC Strength to 37 Judges
Proposed amendment aims to speed up justice delivery and reduce case backlog
- Union Cabinet of India approves increase in judge strength
- Supreme Court judges to rise from 33 to 37 (excluding CJI)
- Move aimed at faster disposal of cases
- Amendment Bill to be introduced in Parliament
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 6th May: The Union Cabinet of India, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a proposal to increase the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court of India from 33 to 37 (excluding the Chief Justice of India).
The decision paves the way for introducing the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Parliament, which seeks to amend the existing 1956 Act governing the court’s strength.
The government said the increase of four additional judges is aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the apex court and ensuring quicker delivery of justice amid rising case loads.
The additional expenditure on salaries, staff and infrastructure will be met from the Consolidated Fund of India.
The strength of the Supreme Court has been gradually expanded over decades. Initially capped at a much lower number under Article 124 of the Constitution, it was raised to 25 judges in 1986, 30 in 2008, and later to 33 in 2019.
The proposed expansion reflects the growing judicial workload and the need for greater capacity in the country’s highest court.
