Number of Supreme Court judges to rise from 34 to 38

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to raise the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court from the current 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. With this, the effective strength of the apex court, including CJI, will rise from 34 to 38, reports Dipak Dash.

I&B minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that more than 92,000 cases are pending before the SC and the increase in the number of judges will help speed up justice. The judge strength of the apex court was last increased from 30 to 33 (excluding the Chief Justice of India) by amending the original Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2019. TOI has learnt that the SC had sought 10 more judges to take the total strength to 43, excluding the CJI.

SC had sought 10 more judges, TOI has learnt. This number was arrived at after an assessment by a threejudge committee set up by the CJI.

People aware of the development said at present, there are over 1,200 cases pending before three-judge bench, over 160 before five-judge bench, around three dozens before seven-judge bench and around 45 before nine-judge bench.

The expansion would cost govt Rs 15 crore per annum which will be met from Consolidated Fund of India. Govt will bring a bill to amend the law to increase the strength of judges