India's Lok Sabha passed a bill to increase the number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38 [3] during the monsoon session this week.
The move comes as the legislature struggles to maintain order, reflecting a deep divide between the government and opposition over civil liberties and judicial capacity. The expansion of the highest court aims to address case backlogs, but the legislative process has been marred by volatility.
Proceedings for day 13 [1] of the session began at 11 a.m. [2] in the Lok Sabha chamber in New Delhi. The atmosphere remained tense as opposition MPs targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Protesters carried banners reading "Amit Shah jawab do," demanding a response regarding a security crackdown on the CJP protest and police actions against demonstrators at Jantar Mantar [1], [5].
Despite the unrest, the government moved forward with its legislative agenda. Two bills were set for introduction in the Lok Sabha [4], including the measure to expand the judiciary. The increase to 38 judges [3] is intended to streamline the delivery of justice in the country's highest court.
Frequent disruptions led to repeated adjournments. The Lok Sabha was adjourned until 2 p.m. [5] as members of the opposition continued to voice grievances over the home ministry's handling of public protests. The standoff between the ruling party and the opposition has become a defining feature of this session's proceedings.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other government officials faced continued pressure from opposition MPs who said that the security measures at Jantar Mantar violated fundamental rights [1], [5]. The government has not yet provided a detailed public response to these specific allegations during the session.
“The Lok Sabha passed a bill to increase the number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38.”
The expansion of the Supreme Court suggests a government effort to tackle judicial inefficiency, yet the simultaneous protests highlight a critical friction point regarding the state's use of police force against dissent. By increasing the bench size, the administration may be attempting to signal a commitment to the rule of law, even as opposition members argue that the executive is undermining it through security crackdowns.
