Increasing the Number of Judges in the Indian Supreme Court and Punjab and Haryana High Court

May 5, 2026, 21:18
AsiaPolitics

Introduction

The Union Cabinet has approved a new law to increase the number of Supreme Court judges. At the same time, the Supreme Court Collegium has authorized the appointment of new judges to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Main Body

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026. This bill aims to change the 1956 Act to increase the number of judges from 33 to 37. This decision was made because there is a need to reduce a very large number of pending cases, which reached 93,143 by March 31, 2026. Furthermore, the government will pay for the judges' salaries and office costs using the Consolidated Fund of India. Historically, the number of judges in the highest court has been changed several times. According to the Constitution, Parliament has the power to decide how many judges are needed. Since the court started in 1950 with only eight judges, it has grown steadily to meet the increasing demand for legal services. For example, the number of judges increased in 1960, 1977, 1986, 2008, and most recently in 2019. In addition to these changes, the Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, has approved ten lawyers to become judges at the Punjab and Haryana High Court. This is necessary because the court currently has only 58 judges, although it is allowed to have 85. These new appointments, including the Advocate-General for Haryana, are intended to help clear a backlog of over 400,000 cases and speed up the legal process in that region.

Conclusion

The Indian legal system is currently increasing the number of staff at both the highest and regional court levels to solve the problem of delayed court cases.

Learning

The 'Precision Shift': Moving from General to Specific

At the A2 level, students often use generic verbs like do, make, or get. To reach B2, you must use Precise Action Verbs. This article is a goldmine for this transition.

The Upgrade Path

Instead of saying "The government made a law," the text uses Approved. Instead of "The law changes the number," the text uses Amendment (as a noun) and Increase.

Look at these B2-level replacements found in the text:

  • Help →\rightarrow Authorize (Giving official permission)
  • Fix/Solve →\rightarrow Clear a backlog (Removing a pile of old work)
  • Grow →\rightarrow Steady growth (Consistent, controlled increase)

Connecting Ideas (The Logical Glue)

A2 speakers use And, But, and Because. B2 speakers use Transition Markers to guide the reader. Notice how this text builds a bridge between ideas:

  1. "Furthermore..." →\rightarrow Use this when you aren't just adding a fact, but adding a stronger or more detailed point.
  2. "In addition to..." →\rightarrow This allows you to mention one thing while immediately introducing another, making your sentences longer and more fluid.

The 'Legal' Logic Structure

Observe the phrase: "intended to help clear a backlog."

B2 Secret: Using "intended to" is a sophisticated way to explain the purpose of an action. It sounds more professional than saying "They want to..."

Quick Comparison: A2: They want to fix the cases. B2: These appointments are intended to clear the backlog of cases.

Vocabulary Learning

cabinet (n.)
A group of senior officials who advise the head of state and make important decisions.
Example:The cabinet met to discuss the new law before it was presented to Parliament.
approve (v.)
To officially agree to or accept something.
Example:The Union Cabinet approved the amendment bill after reviewing its implications.
pending (adj.)
Waiting to be dealt with or decided.
Example:There were 93,143 pending cases that needed to be resolved.
consolidated (adj.)
Combined into a single, unified whole.
Example:The government used the consolidated fund of India to pay the judges' salaries.
constitution (n.)
The fundamental set of laws that governs a country.
Example:According to the constitution, Parliament has the power to decide the number of judges.
parliament (n.)
The legislative body of a country, responsible for making laws.
Example:Parliament debated the proposed changes to the number of judges.
backlog (n.)
A large amount of unfinished work or cases that have piled up.
Example:The new appointments aim to clear a backlog of over 400,000 cases.
advocate (n.)
A lawyer who represents and supports a client’s case.
Example:The Advocate-General for Haryana was among the ten lawyers appointed as judges.
increase (v.)
To make something larger or greater in number.
Example:The bill seeks to increase the number of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37.
salary (n.)
Regular payment for work performed.
Example:The government will pay the judges' salaries from the consolidated fund.