India, July 20 -- Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Monday introduced the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha to raise the strength of judges in the country's top court from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India (CJI). The Bill, moved on the opening day of Parliament's Monsoon Session, seeks to replace an ordinance promulgated in May.

"The additional judges will help the Supreme Court function more efficiently and ensure speedier justice," Meghwal told the House. He added that the expansion was necessitated by a rising backlog of cases before the court.

The Lok Sabha also admitted a statutory resolution moved by the Opposition disapproving of the ordinance, a procedural step opposition ...