Supreme Court judges to be increased to 30

Considering the large number of pending cases seeking to be answered and to bring justice on the fast track, the Indian government conceded the demand of the Supreme Court to augment the number of judges from 25 to 31 comprising chief justice of India.

Litigants can now hope for their cases to be heard quicker as five judges will be increased in the Supreme Court apart from the chief justice.

The move is aimed at easing the workload on judges in the country’s top court, a government release said.

It is expected that the increase in the number of judges will allow the Supreme Court to function more efficiently and effectively towards attaining the ultimate goal of rendering speedy justice to the litigant public.

“The government is going to move an amendment to the Supreme Court (number of Judges) Act, 1956 in the winter session of parliament,” said Principal Director General (Media and Communications) Dipak Sandhu after a meeting of the cabinet of ministers here.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here, an official spokesperson said a Bill to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, would be introduced in the Budget session of Parliament.

Earlier in 1987, the number of Supreme Court judges was increased from 18 to 25 as per the amendment bill passed by the Indian government. The government had amended the act in 1986.

The Supreme Court by a judicial order directed the Central government in 2002 to enhance the number of judges in the Apex and High Courts to tackle the increasing number of pending cases. The number of such pending cases before Apex Court till January accounted for 49,926, while nearly 37 lakhs cases were pending before the High Courts.

Only 593 posts have been filled in High Courts as against the sanctioned strength of 877 judges. Considering the backlog of cases, there is a move to augment the strength of judges in various High Courts also.

Through the Supreme Court (number of judges) Act, 1956, the number of judges was increased from 8 to 11. In 1978, four more judges were added.

In the early years the apex court functioned with only seven judges and all would sit together to hear each case.

However, the legal experts believe that mere increase in the number of judges is not the solution of providing fair and continuous justice. The court should also ensure the only true principle for humanity is justice and justice to the feeble is protection and kindness.