The Lok Sabha on Monday passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, by voice vote amid persistent sloganeering by Opposition members demanding a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged police action during recent protests at Jantar Mantar.
The Rajya Sabha, meanwhile, passed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, despite continuing protests by Opposition members. Both Houses were later adjourned for the day.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, replaces the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, promulgated in May, and increases the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. The amendment raises the apex court’s total strength from 34 to 38 judges, including the Chief Justice, to address the growing pendency of cases and increasing judicial workload.
The Bill was moved by Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. Despite repeated appeals by the Chair to maintain order, Opposition members continued raising slogans before the legislation was passed by voice vote.
Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill, 2026, which seeks to modernise the legal framework governing bankers’ records in line with evolving digital banking practices.
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Statistics and Programme Implementation Rao Inderjit Singh also introduced the Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha.
In the Rajya Sabha, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed amid continued disruptions.
The Bill seeks to amend the MSME Development Act, 2006, to empower courts to direct payment of at least 50 per cent of the awarded amount to MSME suppliers if an application seeking to set aside an arbitral award remains pending for more than six months.
When the Upper House reassembled after lunch, Opposition members demanded that Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge be allowed to speak before the Bill was taken up. They also raised slogans demanding the presence of the Home Minister and sought to discuss the alleged police action during recent student protests in Delhi.
Several Opposition members attempted to link the debate on the legislation with the issue of the student protests and the alleged police excesses. The Chair repeatedly urged members to confine their remarks to the provisions of the Bill before it was eventually passed by voice vote amid continuing protests.
(With inputs from IANS)
