3 weeks ago

Rajya Sabha passes Bill raising Supreme Court judges to 38

Rajya Sabha passes Bill raising Supreme Court judges to 38
Rajya Sabha passes judges Bill; Opposition raises ordinance route, diversity deficit · indianexpress.com

In India, the Supreme Court is the highest court that decides very important cases.

The government wanted to add four more judges to the Supreme Court, increasing the total from 34 to 38.

The Rajya Sabha, one of the two houses of India's Parliament, said yes to this plan with a voice vote.

The plan replaced a special rule called an ordinance that the government had made in May.

Some leaders were unhappy and said the government was in too much of a hurry to use the ordinance.

They also said the court does not have enough judges from different groups, like women, lower castes, and minorities.

Other leaders said the court should have more branches in different cities, like Chennai.

The government said the new judges will help finish cases that have been waiting for a long time.

Many leaders agreed that crores of people in India are still waiting for justice, but they disagreed on how to fix the problem.

Key facts

Bill
Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026
Judge strength
Increased from 34 to 38, including the Chief Justice of India
Replaces
An ordinance promulgated in May
Passage
Lok Sabha on Monday; Rajya Sabha by voice vote on Wednesday after a nearly two-hour discussion
Law Minister
Arjun Ram Meghwal
Judicial appointments (2021-2026)
Of 593 judges appointed to the Supreme Court and High Courts, 26 were SC, 14 ST, 80 OBC, 37 minorities and 96 women were appointed to High Courts
Judges per million
About 16 in 2014, rising to 22 now (per Meghwal)
Cases pending
5.07 crore people waiting for justice in courts across India (per Mahua Maji)

Quotes

Arjun Ram Meghwal

Law and Justice Minister, India

“"The problems are that the Central government will not appoint women to the judiciary, they will not appoint lower castes to the judiciary, they will not appoint religious minorities to the judiciary, they will not appoint gay people to the judiciary."”
indianexpress.com
“"The four new judges would enable the court to set up dedicated benches to hear long-pending cases."”
indianexpress.com

P Wilson

DMK MP and advocate

“"There is a diversity deficit in the High Courts and Supreme Court."”
indianexpress.com

Sources

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