Bhubaneswar, August 5:Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra on Wednesday welcomed the Centre's move to increase the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court from 33 to 37, describing it as a significant step towards strengthening the country's judicial system.

Participating in the discussion on the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026in the Rajya Sabha, Dr. Patra expressed his support for the proposed legislation, stating that the expansion of the apex court's judicial strength would help improve the efficiency of the justice delivery system and address the growing pendency of cases.

While endorsing the Bill, the BJD MP emphasized that increasing the number of judges alone would not be sufficient to meet the challenges faced by the judiciary. He urged the government to give equal priority to the development of judicial infrastructure across the country, including better court facilities, technological upgrades, and enhanced administrative support to ensure the effective functioning of the judicial system.

Dr. Patra also paid tribute to the Supreme Court's historic role in safeguarding the Constitution and upholding the democratic values of the nation. He highlighted the apex court's invaluable contribution to protecting citizens' fundamental rights, preserving the rule of law, and strengthening India's constitutional framework since the country's independence.

Reiterating the BJD's support for measures aimed at enhancing the efficiency and accessibility of the judiciary, Dr. Patra said that judicial reforms should be accompanied by adequate infrastructure and institutional capacity to ensure timely and effective justice for all citizens.