Big relief for litigants? Cabinet clears major expansion of Supreme Court, 4 new judges coming soon
In a major move aimed at tackling the growing backlog of cases, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to increase the strength of the Supreme Court of India from the current 34 judges to 38, including the Chief Justice of India.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that a Bill to formalise the expansion will be introduced in the next session of Parliament.
Once cleared, four additional judges will join the country’s highest court.
At present, the Supreme Court has 33 judges apart from the Chief Justice of India.
The proposed increase is being seen as a key step to reduce delays in hearing crucial matters and speed up justice delivery.
Why it matters
The top court has been grappling with a heavy caseload, with thousands of matters pending.
Legal experts have long argued that increasing judicial strength is essential to improve efficiency and ensure faster disposal of cases.
How the court grew over the years
The sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court has steadily risen over the decades:
- 1956: 10 judges (excluding CJI)
- 1960: Increased to 13
- 1977: Raised to 17
- 1986: Jumped to 25
- 2009: Expanded to 30
- 2019: Increased to 33
Now Proposed: 37 judges plus the CJI, taking the total to 38
If Parliament approves the Bill, it will mark one of the most significant expansions of the apex court in recent years.
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