Garhwal Post Bureau
New Delhi, 5 Aug: BJP National Co-Treasurer and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, Dr Naresh Bansal today participated in the discussion on the Supreme Court Judges (Number) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Rajya Sabha and extended his wholehearted support to the legislation.
During the debate, Dr Bansal said that governments function with continuity and remain accountable to Parliament in a democratic system. However, when Parliament is not in session and there is an urgent legislative requirement, the government may promulgate an Ordinance. Once Parliament reconvenes, the Ordinance is placed before the House for discussion and approval through the legislative process.
Dr Bansal stated that the Bill seeks to replace the Supreme Court Judges (Number) Amendment Ordinance, 2026. The proposed legislation increases the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India, thereby raising the total strength of the Court to 38.
He emphasised that justice is not merely a constitutional expression but a fundamental right of every citizen. “When justice is delayed, it is not only cases that remain pending—public confidence in the justice delivery system is also affected,” he said.
Highlighting the growing burden on the judiciary, Dr Bansal noted that more than 95,000 cases are currently pending before the Supreme Court. In 2025 alone, 75,410 new cases were filed, while 65,615 cases were disposed of, resulting in an increase of more than 10,000 pending cases. He observed that the challenge lies not only in clearing the backlog but also in addressing the continuous inflow of new cases. Increasing the Court’s judicial strength, he said, is therefore a practical necessity.
Dr Bansal further said that the Bill is not merely about creating four additional judicial posts. It is aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of the Supreme Court to deliver timely justice. The legislation also provides for the necessary administrative infrastructure and financial resources required for the additional judges. He stressed that the measure would help give practical effect to the constitutional guarantee of speedy justice under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Quoting the Sanskrit maxim, “Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah” (“Those who protect righteousness are themselves protected by it”), Dr Bansal said that a strong judiciary reinforces the Constitution, and a strong Constitution, in turn, safeguards the rights and security of every citizen.
He also expressed concern over the large number of pending Public Interest Litigations (PILs), noting that 3,525 PILs are currently awaiting disposal, of which 698 are more than a decade old. He pointed out that the oldest pending PIL dates back to 1984, observing that when a matter remains unresolved for nearly four decades, it calls for serious reflection on the capacity of the judicial system.
Dr Bansal said another significant objective of the Bill is to facilitate the regular constitution of Constitution Benches, enabling timely adjudication of matters involving substantial constitutional questions without disrupting the Court’s routine appellate work. Constitutional issues, he remarked, should not remain unresolved for years, as timely constitutional interpretation is essential for a vibrant democracy.
Referring to the Government’s efforts to improve access to justice, he highlighted the expansion of the Tele-Law initiative, which now reaches 776 districts and over 250,000 Gram Panchayats, and has facilitated more than 11.2 million pre-litigation legal consultations. He said access to justice should never depend on a citizen’s financial condition or geographical location.
Concluding his address, Dr Bansal said that there should be no barriers on the path to justice and no citizen should feel helpless in seeking legal remedies. He asserted that the true spirit of the Constitution can only be realised when every citizen receives justice in a timely manner.
