Lok Sabha Passes Bill to Raise Supreme Court Judge Strength to 38

Parliament Clears Bill Amid Protests

The Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill to increase the strength of Supreme Court judges, including the Chief Justice of India, from 34 to 38. The Bill was cleared without any debate as Opposition members continued their protests over the NEET issue and the Ram temple donation controversy.

The government moved the Bill to replace an ordinance that had already been promulgated to raise the sanctioned strength of the apex court. The ordinance was issued earlier this year to address the rising pendency of cases in the Supreme Court.

No Discussion as Opposition Stalls Proceedings

According to reports, the Bill was taken up for passage amid noisy scenes in the House. Opposition MPs were demanding a discussion on the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the controversy surrounding donations to the Ram temple trust. The Speaker's repeated appeals for order went unheeded, forcing the government to push the Bill through without a formal debate.

The passage of the Bill comes on the third day of the Monsoon Session, which has been marred by frequent adjournments. Both Houses were eventually adjourned for the day after the Bill was passed, with the Rajya Sabha also facing disruptions.

What the Bill Does

The Bill amends the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to increase the sanctioned strength from 34 judges (including the CJI) to 38. This is the latest in a series of increases over the years — the strength was raised from 31 to 34 in 2019.

The increase is intended to help clear the backlog of over 80,000 pending cases in the Supreme Court. The government has argued that a higher judge strength will allow for more Benches to function simultaneously, expediting disposal of cases.

Opposition Protests Continue

The Opposition's protests have centred on two main issues: the NEET medical entrance exam irregularities and the acceptance of donations by the Ram temple trust from companies linked to alleged hawala transactions. Leaders from several parties have been demanding a statement from the government and a discussion under an adjournment motion.

The government, however, has maintained that the Bill was necessary to ensure the timely functioning of the judiciary and accused the Opposition of obstructing legislative business over issues that are not directly related to the Bill.

What Next

The Bill will now be taken up in the Rajya Sabha for consideration and passage. It is expected to be passed without much resistance, given the government's majority in the Upper House. Once both Houses clear it, the Bill will go to the President for assent, after which the increase in judge strength will take effect.

With Parliament still in Monsoon Session, the government is expected to push other legislative business, but the Opposition's continued protests could lead to more disruptions in the coming days.