Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud has recently addressed the critical issue of delays in the Supreme Court’s hearing of significant cases, including those related to the hijab ban and Article 370. In his statement, CJI Chandrachud acknowledged the challenges faced by the Indian judiciary in handling a vast number of cases annually and outlined his strategy to mitigate these delays.
CJI Chandrachud emphasized the stark contrast between the caseload of the Indian Supreme Court and its global counterparts. He noted that while Supreme Courts worldwide typically deal with around 180-200 cases each year, the Supreme Court of India is inundated with over 50,000 cases annually. This overwhelming number of cases poses a unique challenge, particularly when it comes to forming Constitution Benches to address issues of national importance.
In his explanation of the logistical hurdles, CJI Chandrachud said,
“So, every time I have to set apart, say, two constitution benches, say, of ten judges – my instinct is, well, I’m taking ten judges away, so that I’m left with only twenty-four. If I’m left with twenty-four judges and I’m operating with, say, three judge benches, I have only eight benches to deal with the 50,000 cases in a year.”
This statement from the CJI highlights the balancing act required by the judiciary in managing the high volume of cases while ensuring that constitutional and nationally significant matters are given due attention. To address this issue, CJI Chandrachud announced steps to establish a Constitution Bench that operates on a rolling basis throughout the year. This initiative is partly in response to the criticism over the delays in hearing critical cases.
The decision to set up a Constitution Bench on a rolling basis represents a strategic approach to enhance the efficiency of the judiciary. This move is expected to expedite the resolution of cases, especially those with far-reaching implications, and improve the overall functioning of the Supreme Court in dealing with its extensive caseload.
CJI Chandrachud’s acknowledgment of the challenges and his proactive steps to address them reflect a commitment to ensuring timely justice and maintaining the integrity of the judicial process in India.
