Supreme Court Number of Judges Amd Bill 2026

REGISTERED NO. DL-(N)04/0007/2003-26 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-20072026-274657 EXTRAORDINARY PART II — Section 2 PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 13] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, JULY 20, 2026/ASHADHA 29, 1948 (Saka) Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed as a separate compilation. LOK SABHA The following Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on 20th July, 2026:— BILL No. 128 OF 2026 A Bill further to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956. BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:— 1. (1) This Act may be called the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2026. Short title and commencement. (2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 16th day of May, 2026. 2. In section 2 of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, for the word "thirty-three", the word "thirty-seven" shall be substituted. 55 of 1956. Amendment of section 2. THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [Part II— Repeal and savings. 3. (1) The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026 is hereby repealed. Ord. 1 of 2026. (2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 as amended by the said Ordinance, shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provisions of the said Act as amended by this Act. 55 of 1956. Sec. 2] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS The volume of litigation of cases in the Supreme Court of India has constantly been on the rise due to persistent gap between institution and final disposal of cases in the Court. As on the 1st day of January, 2026, there were 92,101 cases pending in the Supreme Court. Even while working at near-full sanctioned capacity of 34 Judges since 2019, the Supreme Court recorded institution of 75,410 fresh matters in 2025 against a disposal of 65,615 cases. There has been a persistent gap between institution and final disposal of cases which highlights the ongoing challenge of managing the docket, particularly in relation to older pending cases and those necessitating the attention and adjudication by larger Benches. 2. The increase in judge-strength of the Court is one of the most exigent and viable solutions for tackling the pending backlog of cases in the Supreme Court. It will also make it possible for the Chief Justice of India to constitute Constitutional Benches for required period of days on a regular basis to hear cases involving substantial question of law. 3. The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 which seeks to replace the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026 (Ord. 1 of 2026) to increase the number of Judges in the Supreme Court from present thirty-three to thirty-seven, excluding the Chief Justice of India. 4. The Bill seeks to replace the aforesaid Ordinance. NEW DELHI; ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL. The 15th July, 2026. THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [Part II— FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM Clause 2 of the Bill seeks to increase the present strength of the Judges of the Supreme Court from thirty-three to thirty-seven (excluding the Chief Justice of India). This will increase the expenditure on account of pay and allowances on creation of four additional posts of Judges in the Supreme Court along with required staff. The Judges will also be entitled to the use of rent-free official residence. Each Judge will have to be provided with personal staff at residence and office. Expenditure would also be incurred in connection with the deployment of security for Judges. 2. The estimated recurring expenditure on salaries of four Judges and their staff, conveyance and other miscellaneous expenses would be rupees 10,56,81,648 per annum and non-recurring expenditure towards car and furnishing of official residence and other miscellaneous expenses will be approximately rupees 3,47,36,000. Thus, the total expenditure on creation of additional four posts of Judges in the Supreme Court of India will be of rupees 14,04,17,648 approximately. Other recurring and non-recurring expenditure, as applicable under the existing statutory provisions, to be incurred on creation of four additional posts of Judges in the Supreme Court of India, will be made. 3. The Bill, if enacted, is not likely to involve any other recurring and non- recurring expenditure. UTPAL KUMAR SINGH, Secretary-General. UPLOADED BY THE MANAGER, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PRESS, MINTO ROAD, NEW DELHI-110002 AND PUBLISHED BY THE CONTROLLER OF PUBLICATIONS, DELHI-110054. MGIPMRND—449GI(S4)—20-07-2026. GORAKHA Digitally signed NATH by GORAKHA YADAVA NATH YADAVA Date: 2026.07.20 22:22:20 +05'30'