Rajya Sabha clears bill to raise Supreme Court judge strength to 34, sends it to Lok Sabha

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on [date] passed a bill seeking to increase the number of Supreme Court judges from 31 to 34, including the Chief Justice of India. The bill, known as the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2023, was moved by Law Minister Kiren Rijiju and was passed by voice vote. It now heads to the Lok Sabha for consideration.

The proposed increase comes amid a mounting backlog of cases in the Supreme Court, which is currently dealing with over 80,000 pending matters. The government has stated that the additional judges will help expedite the disposal of cases and reduce the burden on the existing bench. The move is also seen as a response to the Chief Justice of India's request for an increase in judicial strength to manage the growing caseload.

The bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on [date] and was referred to the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice. The committee submitted its report, recommending the increase after consulting with legal experts and the judiciary.

The opposition has extended its support to the bill, with members stressing the need for a robust judicial infrastructure. However, some MPs raised concerns about the pace of appointments and the importance of diversity in judicial appointments. The Law Minister assured the House that the selection process would be transparent and merit-based.

Under the Constitution, the total strength of the Supreme Court is determined by Parliament. The current strength of 31 judges was fixed by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, which has been amended several times. The last increase was in 2019, when the strength was raised from 30 to 31.

With the passage of the bill in the Rajya Sabha, the government will now seek approval from the Lok Sabha. Once both Houses pass the bill and it receives the President's assent, the appointment process for the three new judges can begin.

Legal experts have welcomed the move, noting that the additional judges would allow the Supreme Court to constitute more benches, particularly for commercial and constitutional matters. However, they also cautioned that increasing judge strength alone will not solve the systemic issues of adjournments and understaffed tribunals.

The government has maintained that judicial reforms are a priority, with recent measures including the use of technology for e-filing and virtual hearings. The Bill is expected to be taken up in the Lok Sabha in the upcoming session, and its passage is anticipated with cross-party support.