THE HINDU DATED 18th MAY 2026

Summary of Important News Items and Editorials-196

THE HINDU DATED 18th MAY  2026

(for reading HINDU News items from 1 to 194 please visit –

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1.   Ordinance Increases Number of Supreme Court Judges to 37

The President promulgated an ordinance increasing the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 37 in response to rising pendency of cases. The move reflects growing concern regarding delays in judicial delivery and the increasing burden on the higher judiciary. India’s Supreme Court faces thousands of pending cases, affecting timely justice and public confidence in the legal system. The government argued that additional judges would help reduce backlog and improve efficiency. Legal experts, however, pointed out that merely increasing judicial strength may not fully resolve structural issues such as procedural delays, vacancies in lower courts, inadequate infrastructure, and shortage of support staff. The ordinance route also triggered debate regarding the balance between executive urgency and parliamentary scrutiny. Editorial commentary broadly welcomed the increase but emphasised that judicial reforms must include technological modernisation, expansion of subordinate courts, appointment transparency, and improved case management systems to ensure faster and more accessible justice delivery.

2.   Prime Minister’s Norway Visit Focuses on Trade and Energy