Supreme Court Judge Count Increased to Enhance Justice Delivery
Supreme Court Judge Strength Raised From 33 To 37 To Reduce Pendency
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The Indian government has increased the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India, through the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026. This decision aims to address the backlog of pending cases and improve the efficiency of the judicial system.
- 01The increase in judges was announced by Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal on May 16, 2026.
- 02The ordinance follows the Union Cabinet's approval of a proposal to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.
- 03The previous increase in judge strength occurred in 2019, when it was raised from 30 to 33 judges.
- 04The total sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court will now be 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India.
- 05This amendment is intended to enhance judicial efficiency and reduce delays in case hearings.
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President Droupadi Murmu has promulgated the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, increasing the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court of India from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. This decision, announced by Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal on May 16, 2026, aims to tackle the growing backlog of cases and ensure faster justice delivery in the country's highest court. The ordinance comes shortly after the Union Cabinet approved a proposal to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, which was originally enacted to set the number of judges. The last increase in judge strength occurred in 2019, when it was raised from 30 to 33 judges. With this latest amendment, the total sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court will now rise to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. This move is viewed as a significant step towards strengthening judicial infrastructure and enhancing access to timely justice across India.
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This increase in the number of judges is expected to enhance the efficiency of the Supreme Court, leading to quicker resolutions of cases and better access to justice for citizens.
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