NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill by voice vote to replace an ordinance that increased the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 34 judges to 38. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Monday without debate.Being a Money Bill, the Upper House cleared the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, and returned it to the Lok Sabha.Replying to the discussion in Rajya Sabha, Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the increase in the number of SC judges would help speed up disposal of cases and give the CJI greater flexibility in constituting constitution benches, which comprise at least five judges.

The minister said the CJI had written to the PM on May 11, pointing to a substantial increase in the number of cases being filed in SC every day, leading to higher pendency, while there was a shortage of judges to hear regular matters.He cited the example of the Sabarimala case, which is being heard by a nine-judge Constitution Bench, leaving fewer judges available to hear other matters, including criminal appeals. “Increase in number of judges in SC is a step towards improving judicial efficiency,” he said.Meghwal also said India would soon have its first woman CJI.