Union Cabinet Approves Increasing Supreme Court Strength to 37 Judges Plus CJI
The Union Cabinet has cleared a proposal to raise the Supreme Court's sanctioned strength to 37 judges, excluding the Chief Justice. This expansion seeks to alleviate the heavy case backlog and allow for more frequent specialized judicial benches. Union Cabinet Accepts Proposal To Increase Strength Of Supreme Court Judges To 37 (Excluding CJI)
Key Facts
- New sanctioned strength: 37 judges excluding CJI
- Total judge capacity: 38 including CJI
- Primary Legislation: Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956
- Previous limit: 34 judges set in 2019
Under the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, Parliament holds the authority to adjust the size of the top court. The original 1950 framework provided for just eight judges, including the Chief Justice. The latest Cabinet decision to increase the strength to 37 (plus the CJI) marks the first expansion since 2019, when the limit was raised to 34.
The move addresses the mounting pressure of pending litigations and the necessity of forming specialized benches. Specifically, it enables the court to convene more Constitution Benches under Article 145(3), which mandates a five-judge minimum for interpreting constitutional law. The onus now shifts to the Supreme Court Collegium to recommend names for these newly created vacancies.
| Year of Amendment | Total Sanctioned Strength (Incl. CJI) |
|---|---|
| 1950 (Original) | 8 |
| 2019 Amendment | 34 |
| 2024 Approval | 38 |
Glossary
CJI: The Chief Justice of India, the highest-ranking officer of the Indian federal judiciary.
Constitution Bench: A specific bench of five or more judges designated to hear cases involving substantial legal questions regarding the Constitution.
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