Mirzapur, May 17: In a significant move to strengthen the country’s judicial system, President Droupadi Murmu has approved an increase in the number of judges in the Supreme Court. The President has issued the ‘Supreme Court (Judges Number) Amendment Ordinance, 2026’, raising the approved number of judges from 33 to 37. Senior advocate Ashutosh Agrawal welcomed this increase in judges.
Agrawal stated that the decision to increase the number of judges will significantly help reduce pending cases and expedite the judicial process. He also suggested that the number of judges in the Allahabad High Court should be increased.
He emphasized that this increase will positively impact citizens. Thousands of cases are pending in the Supreme Court. With more judges, these cases can be resolved more quickly, and appeals can be heard faster. This will also facilitate the swift resolution of other important cases pending across the country. The resolution of cases coming from the High Court to the Supreme Court will also be expedited. Agrawal praised the President’s decision as commendable and essential. He reiterated the need for more judges in the Allahabad High Court to ensure the quick resolution of pending cases from lower courts.
This ordinance comes just days after the central government approved a proposal to increase the number of judges by four in the Supreme Court. On May 5, during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it was decided to present the ‘Supreme Court (Judges Number) Amendment Bill, 2026’ in Parliament. The government stated that this step was necessary due to the increasing workload and number of pending cases in the Supreme Court. The appointment of new judges is expected to enhance the court’s efficiency and help reduce delays in hearings.
The first law related to increasing the number of Supreme Court judges in India was enacted in 1956. Since then, adjustments have been made periodically to meet the growing needs of the judiciary. Previously, in 2019, the number of judges was increased from 30 to 33. With the new ordinance, the total number of approved judges in the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice of India, will rise to 38. This is seen as a crucial step toward strengthening the country’s judicial system and ensuring timely justice for the people.
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