The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to increase the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court of India from 34 to 38, including the Chief Justice of India. The decision is aimed at enhancing the court’s capacity to handle a growing backlog of cases and improving the efficiency of judicial proceedings.
Expansion of Judicial Strength
Under the approved proposal, the number of judges—excluding the Chief Justice of India—will rise from 33 to 37. This will take the total strength of the apex court to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice.
This marks a significant increase in judicial capacity and comes six years after the previous expansion, when the number of judges was raised from 31 to 33 (excluding the Chief Justice).
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Addressing Case Backlog and Efficiency
The move is primarily intended to address the mounting backlog of cases in the Supreme Court. Officials indicated that increasing the number of judges will help speed up hearings and reduce pendency, which has been a longstanding challenge in India’s judicial system.
A higher number of judges is expected to allow the court to constitute more benches simultaneously, thereby improving case disposal rates and reducing delays in delivering justice.
Second Expansion in Recent Years
This is the second increase in the Supreme Court’s sanctioned strength in recent years. The last revision took place in 2019, when the number of judges was raised to 34 (including the Chief Justice).
The incremental expansion reflects the government’s continued efforts to strengthen judicial infrastructure in response to rising litigation and increasing complexity of cases.
Legislative Amendment Required
The increase in the number of judges will require an amendment to the relevant law governing the strength of the Supreme Court. Once approved by Parliament, the revised strength will be formally implemented.
The decision underscores a policy focus on improving judicial capacity while maintaining the functioning of the country’s highest court amid rising caseloads.
