Courts Mission
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Current affairsSupreme Court Directs States to Raise District Judges' Retirement Age: Pendency Crisis, Constitutional Framework, and Judicial ReformA Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant directed all States and Union Territories on September 1, 2026, to consider raising the retirement age of district judiciary judicial officers from 60 to 61/62 years, in the long-pending case All India Judges Association v. Union of India (W.P.(C) No. 1022/1989). The direction is driven by over 5.18 crore pending cases in district courts and 1,744 vacancies, and is contested by 10 States citing financial constraints. Current affairsTribunals Reforms Act 2026: National Tribunals Commission Ends Executive Control — Judicial Independence RestoredThe Tribunals Reforms Act, 2026 received Presidential assent on August 13, 2026, after passing both Houses of Parliament within a single day. It repeals the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 — key provisions of which the Supreme Court had struck down for violating separation of powers — and establishes a National Tribunals Commission (NTC) as an independent institutional mechanism for appointments, performance review, and oversight of tribunals across India. Current affairsSupreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026: Sanctioned Strength Raised from 34 to 38 — Tackling 92,000+ Case BacklogParliament has passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, raising the apex court's sanctioned strength from 34 to 38 judges (including the Chief Justice). The Bill replaces the May 2026 ordinance and amends the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 — a direct response to the 92,000+ case pendency crisis in India's highest court. Current affairsSupreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2026: Parliament Expands Apex Court Bench to 38 JudgesParliament passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 — Lok Sabha on 3 August and Rajya Sabha on 5 August — permanently increasing the apex court's sanctioned bench strength from 34 to 38 judges (including the Chief Justice). The legislation replaces an Ordinance promulgated on 16 May 2026 and amends Section 2 of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956. Current affairsTribunals Reforms Bill, 2026: Lok Sabha Establishes National Tribunals Commission for 16 Quasi-Judicial BodiesThe Lok Sabha on August 10, 2026, passed the Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026, establishing a National Tribunals Commission (NTC) to oversee appointments, performance evaluation, and complaints across 16 central tribunals. The legislation fulfils a long-standing Supreme Court directive (Madras Bar Association v. Union of India, 2021) for an independent, non-ministerial oversight body insulating tribunals from executive interference. Current affairsOpen Justice and Live-Streaming: Supreme Court on Reporting of Court Proceedings (2026)Open Justice and Live-Streaming: Supreme Court on Reporting of Court Proceedings (2026)
Featured Snippet: On 5 August 2026, the Supreme Court clarified that news outlets can report court proceedings without sharing audio-video clips of live-streamed hearings. The clarification fo...