Lok Sabha Passes Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 – Adds 5 Judges to Reduce Pendency

The Lok Sabha approved the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 on 3 August 2026. The Bill replaces an ordinance that had already raised the strength and now moves to the Rajya Sabha for further approval. The increase aims to address the growing backlog of cases in India’s apex court. Key Developments Bill passed by voice vote in Lok Sabha without debate. Sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court rises from 34 to 38 judges (including the Chief Justice of India ). Five new puisne judges to be appointed, the first increase since 2019. Bill now awaits passage in Rajya Sabha and presidential assent. Important Facts As of 1 January 2026, the Supreme Court had 92,101 pending cases. In 2025 it received 75,410 fresh petitions but disposed of only 65,615 . The government argues that the gap between filings and disposals necessitates more judges. The increase will help the court form Constitution Benches more regularly, without disrupting ordinary case hearings. Backlog is not limited to the Supreme Court. The India Justice Report, 2025 recorded over 5.5 crore pending cases across all courts, with a judge‑to‑population ratio of 15.9 per million , far below the Law Commission of India recommendation of 50 per million. UPSC Relevance This development touches upon several GS papers. Understanding the amendment requires knowledge of Parliamentary procedure (how ordinances are promulgated under Article 123 ), the structure of the judiciary, and the challenges of case management. Aspirants should link the increase to broader themes of judicial reforms, governance efficiency, and constitutional provisions. Way Forward After Rajya Sabha approval, the Bill will receive the President’s assent and become law, formally fixing the Supreme Court’s strength at 38 judges. However, experts caution that merely adding judges will not solve pendency. Comprehensive reforms—timely judicial appointments, strengthening High Courts, reducing adjournments, and improving case‑management systems—are essential to achieve faster justice delivery.