The Union Cabinet of India has given its approval to a significant proposal aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the Supreme Court. On Tuesday, the Cabinet cleared a bill that seeks to increase the sanctioned strength of the nation's highest judicial body by four additional judges.
Once enacted, the proposed Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, will raise the total number of judges from the current 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. This expansion is designed to facilitate faster justice delivery and improve the court's overall operational capacity.
Addressing India's Judicial Backlog
The government's decision comes in response to the substantial volume of pending cases across India's judicial system. As of December 2025, the Supreme Court alone faced a backlog of 92,118 cases. The situation is even more critical in lower courts, with High Courts recording 6,370,904 pending cases and District & Subordinate Courts grappling with an overwhelming 44,345,599 cases.
A Cabinet statement highlighted that "The increase in the number of Judges will allow the Supreme Court to function more efficiently and effectively, ensuring speedy justice." This move is expected to bolster the court's ability to manage its heavy workload and reduce the time taken for case resolution.
Funding and Historical Context
The additional financial burden associated with the increased number of judges, including salaries, support staff, and related infrastructure, will be covered by the Consolidated Fund of India.
This is not the first time the Supreme Court's bench strength has been revised. Article 124(1) of the Indian Constitution empowers Parliament to determine the number of judges. Since its inception, the strength has seen several increments:
- 1956: Initial strength set at 10 judges.
- 1960: Increased to 13 judges.
- 1977: Further raised to 17 judges.
- 1986: Expanded to 25 judges.
- 2008: Augmented to 30 judges.
- 2019: Increased to 33 judges.
The current amendment continues this trend, reflecting the evolving demands on India's top judiciary and the government's commitment to judicial reform.