New Delhi: A Bill to increase the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday, July 20, during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, which seeks to further amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, and to replace an ordinance that had already increased the number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38, including the Chief Justice of India.
Background to the Bill
The President of India had promulgated an ordinance in May 2026 increasing the number of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. With that ordinance in force, the Supreme Court currently has a sanctioned strength of 38 judges, including the Chief Justice, though its present working strength stands at 32 judges, including the Chief Justice. The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, had amended Section 2 of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, replacing the figure "33" with "37".
The Union Cabinet had cleared the proposal to increase the strength of Supreme Court judges on May 5, 2026, ahead of the ordinance's promulgation. The Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha now seeks to give the ordinance the force of permanent legislation.
Constitutional Basis
Article 124 of the Constitution provides that the Supreme Court shall consist of the Chief Justice of India and such number of other judges as Parliament may, by law, prescribe. Since the strength of the Court is a matter left to ordinary legislation rather than constitutional amendment, the present Bill does not require the special majority applicable to constitutional amendments and can be passed by a simple majority in both Houses.
Historical Context
The strength of the Supreme Court was last increased in 2019, when it was raised from 30 to 33 judges, excluding the Chief Justice of India. The present Bill would mark the first enhancement of the Court's sanctioned strength since then, and the most significant since the increases carried out over previous decades to address rising docket pressure before the apex court.
Case Details
Legislation: Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026
Introduced By: Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal
House: Lok Sabha
Date of Introduction: July 20, 2026
Effect: Seeks to amend Section 2 of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to replace the ordinance-inserted figure of "37" (excluding CJI) with a permanent statutory strength of 38 judges (including CJI)
Constitutional Provision: Article 124 of the Constitution of India
Passage Requirement: Simple majority; no constitutional amendment required
