CJI Surya Kant Introduces Major Reforms: Urgent Matters to Be Listed Within Two Days From December 1
Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, has announced significant steps to streamline the listing of cases in the Supreme Court, effective December 1.
Under the new system, matters requiring urgent hearing will now be listed automatically within two working days, eliminating the need for lawyers to mention them orally before the Bench.
According to the circular issued by the Supreme Court, the objective behind these reforms is to simplify case management, reduce unnecessary oral mention before benches, and ensure faster access to justice in urgent matters.
All new cases related to personal liberty, or those seeking immediate interim relief, will be verified and listed within two business days without any request for mentioning.
The circular further states that matters such as anticipatory bail, death penalty cases, eviction issues, and cases involving demolition or urgent administrative action, which cannot wait for the scheduled listing date, may be requested for listing between 10:00 AM and 10:30 AM.
A key procedural change is that senior advocates will no longer be allowed to make oral mentions before any court. Instead, junior advocates will be encouraged and permitted to make such mentions, providing younger lawyers with more courtroom exposure and responsibility.
During a public address on Saturday, Chief Justice Surya Kant emphasized that the greatest challenge before the Indian judiciary lies at the level of district courts, which serve as the primary point of access for the vast majority of litigants.
He stressed that strengthening the district judiciary must be the foremost priority, as it forms the backbone of the entire justice delivery system.
The first concern of any judicial mechanism should be ensuring that district courts are fully capable of delivering justice to litigants,” the CJI stated, highlighting that real judicial reform must begin at the grassroots level.
