Important for GS Prelims: POILTY
About
- It amends the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.
- It increases the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
- The objective is to improve the Court’s efficiency and reduce the growing backlog of cases.
Why was the Amendment Needed?
- Huge pendency of cases before the Supreme Court.
- Increasing complexity of constitutional and public interest litigation.
- Rising workload due to expanding judicial responsibilities.
- Need for speedier delivery of justice and reduction in delays.
Constitutional Basis
- Article 124(1) of the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court.
- It empowers Parliament to determine the number of Supreme Court judges through legislation.
- Therefore, no Constitutional Amendment is required to increase the number of judges.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 strengthens India’s judicial capacity by increasing the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges, aiming to ensure faster and more effective delivery of justice.
| This concept has been elaborately discussed in the following article: Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026: Enhancing the Capacity of India’s Apex Judiciary |