India, May 21 -- Following a recent Cabinet decision, an ordinance has been promulgated expanding the strength of the Supreme Court from 34 to 38 judges. What is striking is how commonplace, and entirely shorn of debate, this has become. In 2019, the strength of the Court was increased from 31 to 34 judges, with a law speedily enacted with little public discussion. And it is natural, perhaps, that this increase is seen as a self-evidently "good" measure, since it "enhances the resources" available to the Court.

But one might ask - how has the increase from 26 to 31, and from 31 to 34, worked so far? And if these haven't worked well, as we might all agree, is a further increase to 38 as inarguably beneficial as it seems to be assumed?

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