Madras High Court’s Chief Justice Gangapurwala swiftly disposes of 73.6% of PILs since May 2023 through a strict screening process for petitioners.
In a remarkable demonstration of judicial efficiency, Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala of the Madras High Court has made significant strides in addressing Public Interest Litigations (PILs). Over a span of just eight months, CJ Gangapurwala has successfully disposed of an impressive total of 399 PILs, showcasing a proactive approach towards legal proceedings.
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This achievement is particularly noteworthy given the unique system CJ Gangapurwala employs for listing PILs. Unlike the Delhi High Court, which allocates a separate day for PILs, the Madras High Court under previous leaderships, such as Chief Justice MN Bhandari and Acting Chief Justice T Raja, used to list a mix of old and new PILs randomly throughout the day’s cause list. However, CJ Gangapurwala has introduced a more structured approach.
Under his authority, PILs, especially the older ones, are listed separately in ‘List 2’. This is a departure from the earlier practice where PILs were interspersed with other matters. ‘List 1’ typically comprises around 130 matters, including writ petitions, writ appeals, and appeals arising from Intellectual Property Rights issues. This list also includes newly instituted PILs, averaging about two or three per day.
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In contrast, ‘List 2’ contains approximately 50-60 matters, mostly consisting of older PILs that are pending hearing, awaiting further directions, or need to be disposed of. While ‘List 1’ is dynamic and changes daily, ‘List 2’ continues throughout the week, subject to the completion of matters from ‘List 1’.
CJ Gangapurwala’s dedication to his duties is evident in his work ethic. He remarked,
“I routinely dedicate an additional half-hour beyond official court hours to finalize my daily tasks. In the event that the first list remains incomplete, I proceed with matters from the second list, and if necessary, it carries over to the following day.”
This approach not only demonstrates CJ Gangapurwala’s commitment to reducing the backlog of cases but also highlights a significant shift in the handling of PILs in the Madras High Court. His efforts have streamlined the process, ensuring a more efficient and systematic approach to judicial proceedings. This has undoubtedly contributed to the impressive number of PILs disposed of in such a short period, marking a notable chapter in the annals of the Madras High Court’s history.
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