Lok Sabha passes bill to expand Supreme Court bench strength from 34 to 38
New Delhi, August 03: The Lok Sabha on Monday passed the bill to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court without any discussion, with the aim of expediting the disposal of pending cases and increasing the judicial capacity. The bill provides for increasing the total number of judges, including the Chief Justice, from 34 to 38.
The Lok Sabha today passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026. This bill further amends the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956. While the bill was being introduced for discussion, the opposition continued to create ruckus on various issues.
The uproar continued despite a request from Presiding Officer Krishna Prasad Tenneti. The bill was passed amid the uproar.
Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said in the Lok Sabha that the amendment is an important step in a series of reforms in the judicial sector. He stated that the formation of Constitutional Benches reduces the number of judges available to hear regular cases. Consequently, the need for additional judges was felt. A bill has been placed before the House to give legal form to the ordinance introduced in this regard.
He stated that, in accordance with Article 124 of the Constitution, the number of judges in the Supreme Court has been increased from time to time according to changing needs. At the time of enactment of the Constitution, there was a provision for a total of eight judges, including the Chief Justice. This number was later increased through the 1956 Act. The current amendment aims to effectively resolve the growing backlog of cases and make the judicial process more efficient.
