After Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha Clears Bill To Increase Supreme Court Judges To 38 The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday approved a bill to increase the number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38 through a voice vote, marking a significant step in judicial reforms. The bill, which seeks to replace an earlier ordinance that had raised the judge count, was cleared by the Upper House and returned to the Lok Sabha as it is classified as a Money Bill. This decision follows discussions with Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, who emphasized the importance of the reform in enhancing judicial efficiency and addressing the backlog of cases. The bill’s passage comes amid ongoing efforts to modernize the judiciary and streamline the legal process. Meghwal highlighted that the increase in judges is part of a broader strategy to reduce the pendency of cases, which has long been a critical challenge for the Indian legal system. He stated, “The increase of judges in the Supreme Court is a step to improve judicial efficiency,” adding that the government is committed to collaborating with the judiciary to implement alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms. These mechanisms, which include arbitration, mediation, and conciliation, are intended to expedite case resolution and alleviate the burden on the courts. The ordinance that initially raised the judge count from 34 to 38 was introduced in response to the growing caseload and the need for a more robust judicial infrastructure. However, the new bill aims to formalize this expansion through legislative processes, ensuring transparency and parliamentary oversight. The return of the bill to the Lok Sabha underscores its status as a Money Bill, which requires approval from the Lower House without amendments, as per constitutional provisions.#rajya_sabha #supreme_court #arjun_ram_meghwal #money_bill #judicial_reforms
Bill To Increase Supreme Court Judge Strength Brought After CJI's Letter To PM : Law Minister Tells Rajya Sabha The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday considered and returned the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, with Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal disclosing that the proposal to increase the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court was initiated after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant wrote to the Prime Minister seeking the enhancement. The Bill seeks to increase the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38, including the Chief Justice of India. Having been returned by the Rajya Sabha after debate, it now awaits Presidential assent to become law. The Lok Sabha had cleared the Bill on August 3. Replying to the debate, Meghwal said the increase in judicial strength was not merely the need of the hour but also an important judicial reform aimed at facilitating the constitution of a permanent Constitution Bench and dedicated benches for disposal of pending cases. The Law Minister revealed that CJI Surya Kant had written to the Prime Minister on May 11 requesting an increase in the Court's sanctioned strength. According to Meghwal, the CJI pointed out that the growing inflow of cases required the Supreme Court to maintain a high daily disposal rate. However, the constitution of Constitution Benches inevitably affects that rate, as judges are diverted from regular hearing work. The CJI cited the recently constituted nine-judge Constitution Bench hearing the Sabarimala reference as an example. Therefore, the CJI proposed an increase in the strength of Judges. Following the CJI's letter, the Ordinance was brought on May 17. The debate on the Bill saw participation from around 33 members, beginning with Senior Advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha.#lok_sabha #rajya_sabha #supreme_court #surya_kant #arjun_ram_meghwal
