President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday approved the Union Cabinet’s decision to increase the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 33 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice of India. The move aims to strengthen the apex court and improve the pace of justice delivery amid a growing backlog of cases.

The approval follows the Cabinet’s nod on May 5, 2026, to introduce the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill in Parliament. According to posts by officials on X, the ordinance amends the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, raising the number of judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India.

The government highlighted that the expansion is particularly timely, as over 92,000 cases are currently pending before the Supreme Court. Increasing the number of judges is expected to enhance judicial capacity and reduce delays, ensuring faster resolution of high-profile and critical matters.

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Under Article 124(1) of the Indian Constitution, Parliament has the authority to determine the number of Supreme Court judges through legislation. Historically, the court’s sanctioned strength has been revised several times to match rising caseloads.

The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 initially set the strength at 10 judges excluding the Chief Justice. Over the decades, this number has steadily increased: to 13 in 1960, 17 in 1977, 25 in 1986, 30 in 2008, and 33 in 2019. Each revision has aimed to address the growing demands on the judiciary.

Experts say the latest expansion reflects ongoing efforts by the government and judiciary to strengthen institutional capacity and ensure that India’s apex court can manage its increasing workload more efficiently, safeguarding timely access to justice for citizens across the country.

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