In a key development, Lok Sabha has passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026. The bill aims to further amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, for increasing the number of Judges of the Apex Court from the present 33 to 37 (excluding the Chief Justice of India).
In May this year, President Droupadi Murmu had promulgated an ordinance to increase the number of Supreme Court Judges from 33 to 37.When the House met after the second adjournment at 2:00 PM, Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal moved the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026.
He said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the mantra of Reform, Perform and Transform is being effectively implemented. The Minister said that the Bill is an important step in that ongoing reform process within the judicial sector. Meghwal said, the bill has been brought in view of the rising number of pending cases in the Supreme Court and to make the judicial system more efficient and effective. He said, this step will further strengthen judicial capacity, expedite the effective disposal of cases, and mark an important milestone in ensuring timely justice for citizens.
Our correspondent reports the volume of litigation in the Supreme Court has constantly been on the rise due to a persistent gap between institution and final disposal of cases in the Court. As on 1st of January this year, over 92 thousand cases are pending in the Supreme Court. Even while working at near-full sanctioned capacity of 34 Judges since 2019, the Supreme Court recorded institution of 75 thousand 410 fresh matters last year against a disposal of more than 65 thousand cases.
A persistent gap between the institution and final disposal of cases underscores the continuing challenge of docket management, particularly with respect to older pending matters and cases requiring adjudication by larger Benches. The increase in judge-strength of the Court is one of the most exigent and viable solutions for tackling the pending backlog of cases in the Supreme Court.
Earlier, when the Lok Sabha met after the first adjournment at 12 noon, presiding officer Krishna Prasad Tenneti tried to take up the legislative business, amid opposition uproar. Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Rao Inderjit Singh introduced the Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026. The Bill seeks to provide for a comprehensive statutory framework to the Indian Statistical Institute, to excel as a globally recognised centre in Statistical Sciences and allied fields.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill, 2026. It aims to provide for law relating to evidence with respect to bankers’ books and align it with contemporary digital banking practices.
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