Lok Sabha Passes Bill To Raise Supreme Court Judge Strength To 37

New Delhi, Aug 3: The Lok Sabha on Monday passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, paving the way for increasing the sanctioned strength of judges in the apex court from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India.

The Bill seeks to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956. President Droupadi Murmu had promulgated an ordinance in May to raise the number of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37.

Moving the legislation, Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the measure was aimed at strengthening judicial capacity and addressing the rising pendency of cases in the Supreme Court. He said the move would help expedite disposal of cases and ensure timely justice.

As of January 1 this year, more than 92,000 cases were pending before the Supreme Court. The court, which has been functioning with its sanctioned strength of 34 judges since 2019, registered 75,410 fresh matters last year and disposed of more than 65,000 cases.

The continuing gap between institution and disposal of cases has contributed to the backlog, particularly older matters and cases requiring adjudication by larger benches.

Earlier, proceedings in the Lok Sabha were repeatedly disrupted by opposition members demanding a response from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over alleged police action during student protests linked to the NEET issue.

The House was adjourned twice amid the uproar. The presiding officer urged members to maintain parliamentary decorum and refrain from bringing placards and banners into the House.

During the day, the Lok Sabha also saw the introduction of the Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026, and the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill, 2026. Speaker Om Birla also congratulated Indian athletes for winning 39 medals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. (Agencies)