- Lok Sabha on August 5, 2019 passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill.
- The bill proposes an increase in the number of judges in Supreme Court from 30 to 33 excluding the Chief Justice of India.
- It seeks to address the rising pendency of cases in the apex court. The Judges will also be entitled to the use of the rent-free official residence.
- As per the Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, as on the 1st day of June this year, there were 58669 cases pending in the Supreme Court.
- The strength of the Supreme Court Judges is fixed by law made by the Parliament as per 124 (1) of the Constitution of India.
- In 1988, about three decades ago, the judge strength of the SC was increased from 18 to 26, and then again after two decades in 2009, it was increased to 31, including the CJI, to expedite disposal of cases to keep pace with the rate of institution.
- The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 was last amended in 2009 to increase the judges strength from 25 to 30 (excluding the CJI).
- The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 originally provided for a maximum of 10 judges (excluding the CJI).
