Ordinance to up SC judges from 33 to 37 promulgated

NEW DELHI: The President Saturday promulgated an ordinance - Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance 2026 - to increase the strength of apex court judges from 33 to 37 with immediate effect. With this amendment, SC's strength has now been increased to 38 judges, including CJI.

The ordinance will be brought before Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha when they convene for monsoon session. It will be replaced by an amendment bill and govt will have to get it passed by both Houses. The Union Cabinet on May 5 had cleared the proposal to increase the strength of SC judges. It has been done in view of increasing pendency of cases - over 90,000 cases are pending for disposal before the top court.

In 1950, the SC had first started with eight judges, including CJI.