Big relief for litigants? Cabinet clears major expansion of Supreme Court, 4 new judges coming soon

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:

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.