Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 is the parent legislation that governs the maximum permissible strength of the Supreme Court bench. Originally enacted when the Constituent Assembly's initial provision of eight judges (including CJI) proved insufficient, this two-section Act has served as the parliamentary instrument for all subsequent expansions. Parliament has amended it seven times since 1956 — making it one of the most frequently amended pieces of Indian legislation in the judicial domain.
- Original strength (1950): 8 judges including CJI (7 others)
- 1956: raised to 11; 1960: 14; 1978: 18; 1986: 26; 2009: 31; 2019: 34 (33 + CJI)
- 2026 (proposed): 38 (37 + CJI)
- The 2019 amendment was passed in both Houses within two days, following a recommendation from then-CJI Ranjan Gogoi citing rising pendency
- Amendment requires a simple majority in both Houses of Parliament — no special majority needed, as this is ordinary legislation, not a constitutional amendment
● Tracked since May 05, 2026 · last seen August 05, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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