Parliament clears Bill to increase number of judges in Supreme Court
Parliament has passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, increasing the total number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 37. The opposition walked out during the debate, citing concerns over the government's legislative process and the lack of representation for marginalized groups in the judiciary.
Why it matters
Expanding the judiciary is a legislative response to the massive backlog of cases in India, though it remains a point of contention regarding judicial diversity and procedural transparency.
The Rajya Sabha passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill even as the Opposition members walked out before the voting on the Bill. The Bill, passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday (August 5, 2026), is a Money Bill, and the Upper House returned it to the Lower House after a discussion. The Bill increases the number of Supreme Court judges to 37 from the present strength of 34.
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