The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, as originally enacted, fixed the maximum number of judges (excluding the Chief Justice of India) at 10. File | Photo credit: PTI
The Union Cabinet on Tuesday (May 5, 2026) approved increasing the number of Supreme Court judges from 34, including the Chief Justice of India, to a total of 38.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Supreme Court currently has an approved strength of 33 judges, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI). A bill to increase this power by four should be introduced at the next session of Parliament.
Published – May 5, 2026 8:14 PM IST
