Over 96,000 Cases Pending Before 38 Judges

India’s higher judiciary continues to face a growing caseload, with the Supreme Court handling more than 96,000 cases with a strength of 38 judges, according to the latest available data from the National Judicial Data Grid. This translates to approximately 2,500 cases per judge, highlighting the mounting pressure on the country’s highest judicial institution.

In May 2026, the Central Government increased the Supreme Court’s sanctioned strength from 34 to 38 judges to address the growing backlog and improve the court’s ability to hear and decide cases.

However, the increase in judicial strength has raised questions about whether appointing more judges alone can effectively reduce pending cases. While a larger bench may allow the court to hear more matters, the rising number of cases being admitted continues to add to the overall burden.

Special Leave Petitions Contribute to the Growing Caseload

Among the different categories of cases handled by the Supreme Court, Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) account for a significant share of its workload. These petitions are filed under Article 136 of the Constitution, which empowers the Supreme Court to grant special permission to appeal against judgments, decrees, orders or decisions passed by courts and tribunals across the country.

Unlike regular appeals, the Supreme Court has discretionary powers to decide whether an SLP deserves to be heard. However, the increasing number of such petitions has contributed to the court's expanding caseload.

The growing volume of cases raises concerns about judicial efficiency and timely access to justice. While increasing the number of judges may improve the court's capacity, managing the admission of cases, particularly discretionary petitions, remains an important challenge.