New Delhi: The Lok Sabha is scheduled to take up the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 for consideration and passage on Wednesday, with Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal set to move the legislation during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
According to the Lok Sabha’s List of Business, Meghwal will move that the Bill, which seeks to further amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, be taken into consideration and passed by the House. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 20 amid continued Opposition sloganeering that disrupted proceedings during the Monsoon Session.
The proposed legislation seeks to replace the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, promulgated in May, and increase the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. With the CJI included, the apex court’s sanctioned strength would rise to 38 judges.
The Union Cabinet had approved the proposal in May, stating that the increase in the court’s sanctioned strength would enable the Supreme Court to function more efficiently, facilitate quicker disposal of cases and help ensure speedier justice.
According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons accompanying the Bill, the move is intended to address the growing pendency of cases before the apex court by expanding judicial capacity. Reports noted that the Bill does not require a constitutional amendment and can be passed by a simple majority in Parliament.
