The Parliament on Wednesday passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2019 to increase the strength of the Supreme Court to thirty-three (33), excluding the Chief Justice of India. The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2019, which was in the nature of a money bill, was returned by the Rajya Sabha to Lok Sabha post consideration on Wednesday. While urging the House to take the opportunity to discuss the working of the judiciary in the country, the Leader of the Opposition, Gulam Nabi Azad said that the Bill was a "welcome step". "..we have a battery of lawyers this side and that side. We would also like to know what is happening in the judiciary and how the judiciary is functioning and how it can further be improved.. otherwise, standalone you cannot discuss (the judiciary).." Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that it was a "simple Bill" to add three more judges to the Supreme Court and a "larger discussion" on the issues concerning the judiciary could be done separately. "I assure from my side, if the Hon'ble Chairman wishes to have a discussion on the working of the judiciary, we can have inNovember..subject to the Rules." BSP Leader, Satish Chandra urged the Central Government to ensure representation of the Scheduled Castes in the Supreme Court. The Bill was subsequently returned to the Lok Sabha without any proposed amendments. The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday. It was moved in the Rajya Sabha yesterday by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and reportedly passed unanimously and without discussion.