Why in News?
The Lok Sabha passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 on August 3, 2026, to raise the sanctioned strength of judges in the Apex Court from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India (CJI). This follows an ordinance promulgated by the President in May 2026.
What does the bill change?
- The bill amends the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, increasing the number of judges (excluding the CJI) from 33 to 37. Including the CJI, the total sanctioned strength will rise to 38.
- The previous strength of 34 (33+1) was in place since 2019. The increase is aimed at addressing the over 92,000 pending cases in the Supreme Court as of January 1, 2026.
- Parliament derives this power from Article 124(1) of the Constitution, which allows it to prescribe the court's strength by law. The Supreme Court was originally established with just 8 judges (1 CJI + 7 others) in 1950.
Exam Connect
Article 124 → Establishes the Supreme Court of India and empowers Parliament to regulate its judge strength
Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 → Originally set 10 judges (excluding CJI); amended over time to 13 (1960), 17 (1977), 25 (1986), 30 (2009), 33 (2019), and now 37 (2026)