The historic decision to increase the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court has finally received the green light from President Droupadi Murmu. On Sunday, the President formally approved the Union Cabinet’s long-awaited proposal to elevate the number of judges in the apex court from 33 to 38, including the Chief Justice of India. This significant development marks a crucial milestone in the nation’s efforts to strengthen its judicial system, ensuring timely delivery of justice to citizens.
First Section
The move is set to address the growing backlog of cases and alleviate the mounting pressure on the existing judges. With the sanctioned strength now increased, the Supreme Court will be able to function more efficiently, thereby reducing the average pendency period of cases. This, in turn, will help in delivering justice to litigants in a more timely and effective manner.
The decision is also seen as a significant step towards enhancing the independence and autonomy of the judiciary. By increasing the number of judges, the government aims to minimize the workload on individual judges, thereby preventing them from feeling overburdened and under pressure to deliver judgments quickly, often at the cost of thorough deliberation and consideration.
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The proposal to increase the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court was first mooted in 2019, but it has taken several rounds of consultations and deliberations between the government and the judiciary to reach this milestone. The Supreme Court itself had requested the government to increase the sanctioned strength of the court, citing the growing pendency of cases and the need for more judicial manpower to handle the workload.
Justice U.U. Lalit, the outgoing Chief Justice of India, had also emphasized the need for increasing the number of judges in the Supreme Court. He had stated that the existing strength of 33 judges was not sufficient to handle the sheer volume of cases pending before the court, and that the increase in sanctioned strength would go a long way in addressing this problem.
Third Section
The President’s approval of the Union Cabinet’s proposal is a significant victory for the government and the judiciary alike. The government has managed to push through a key reform, which will have far-reaching implications for the nation’s judicial system. At the same time, the judiciary will be able to function more effectively, thanks to the additional judicial manpower that will be at its disposal.
As the Supreme Court embarks on this new chapter, it is expected to play an even more critical role in upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of citizens. With the sanctioned strength increased, the court will be better equipped to handle complex cases and provide timely justice to those in need.
President Droupadi Murmu’s approval of the proposal marks a significant milestone in the nation’s commitment to strengthening its judicial system. As the Supreme Court looks to the future, it is clear that this decision will have a lasting impact on the country’s journey towards a more just and equitable society.
