President Murmu Clears Ordinance To Expand Supreme Court Bench To 38

New Delhi, May 18 (KNN) President Droupadi Murmu has enforced an ordinance increasing the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court of India to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India (CJI), raising the total strength of the apex court to 38 judges.

Ordinance Issued Under Article 123 

The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, amends Section 2 of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 by replacing the word ‘thirty-three’ with ‘thirty-seven.’

The official gazette notification stated that “Parliament is not in session and the President is satisfied that the circumstances exist which render it necessary for her to take immediate action.”

The ordinance was issued under Article 123 of the Constitution, which empowers the President to promulgate ordinances when Parliament is not in session.

With this amendment, the Supreme Court can now have the Chief Justice of India (CJI) along with 37 other judges. Earlier, the sanctioned strength stood at 34 judges, including the CJI.

Move Aims To Address Case Backlog 

The move comes at a time when the apex court continues to grapple with a large backlog of pending cases. The increase in strength is expected to create four additional judicial positions, though appointments to these posts will still be made through the collegium process.

Earlier this month, on May 5, the Union Cabinet had approved a proposal to increase the strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges.

The latest ordinance marks another significant step aimed at improving judicial capacity and addressing growing case pendency in the country’s highest court.

(KNN Bureau)