Kathmandu— Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal stated that increasing the number of Supreme Court judges is a 'demand of time' to address rising case pendency and evolving judicial challenges. The Rajya Sabha passed the bill on Wednesday, which had already been approved by the Lok Sabha earlier this year.

Rationale Behind the Legislation

Minister Meghwal explained that Chief Justice of India Surya Kant wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May, highlighting a significant rise in daily case filings before the apex court and estimating an annual gap of 10,000 cases. He noted that the constitution of larger Constitution Benches reduces the number of judges available for regular hearings, leading to delays in criminal appeals and other cases.

Government's Commitment to Judicial Reform

Meghwal emphasized that reducing pendency is a priority for the government. He said increasing the strength of Supreme Court judges is part of broader judicial reforms aimed at improving access to justice and ensuring speedy disposal of pending cases. The minister also highlighted that five new Supreme Court judges were appointed on June 1, 2026, and four special benches have been constituted to exclusively hear the oldest pending civil and criminal matters.

Infrastructure Expansion

To address concerns over judicial infrastructure, Meghwal informed that expansion work worth Rs 795.53 crore is underway at the Supreme Court building in two phases. This includes the construction of 28 courtrooms, nine Constitution courtrooms, and 42 judges' chambers, along with facilities for lawyers and parking.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.