The Lok Sabha has officially passed a crucial bill to increase the strength of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI). This move aims to address the massive backlog of cases and reduce judicial pendency in India's highest court.
Key Takeaways
- The total strength of Supreme Court judges will now stand at 38, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
- The Lok Sabha cleared the bill during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
- The move is designed to tackle the massive backlog of pending cases in the apex court.
In a landmark development for the Indian judicial system, the Lok Sabha has passed a bill to increase the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges. The bill proposes to raise the number of judges from the current 34 to 38, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI). The bill was passed amid intense debates and opposition protests over other national issues during the Parliament's Monsoon Session.
The decision comes in response to the ever-increasing burden of litigations and the high number of pending cases before the apex court. By increasing the bench strength, the government aims to facilitate the faster disposal of cases and ensure the efficient functioning of constitutional benches.
Historical Background
When the Supreme Court of India was established in 1950, it started with a very modest bench. Over the decades, as the country's population grew and legal disputes became more complex, Parliament periodically intervened to increase the judicial strength. The evolution of the Supreme Court's strength is detailed in the table below:
| Year | Sanctioned Strength (Including CJI) |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 8 |
| 1986 | 26 |
| 2009 | 31 |
| 2019 | 34 |
| Proposed Bill (2024) | 38 |
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that increasing the number of judges in the Supreme Court is not merely an administrative upgrade but a vital step toward securing the right to speedy justice. With caseloads reaching unprecedented levels, a larger bench will allow the Supreme Court to divide work more effectively, reducing the average time required to hear and resolve landmark constitutional matters.
"Increasing the bench strength is a positive step, but the real solution to judicial pendency lies in procedural reforms and filling vacancies on time across all levels of the judiciary."
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What will be the new strength of the Supreme Court after this bill?
Answer: The total sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court will increase to 38 judges, which includes the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
Q2: Who has the authority to increase the number of Supreme Court judges in India?
Answer: Under the Constitution of India, only the Parliament has the power to increase the number of Supreme Court judges by enacting a law.
