The Chief Justice of India (CJI), Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Today (December 10), announced a change in the scheduling of case hearings at the Supreme Court. He stated that “regular matters will now be listed from January 2025 onwards considering the ‘huge pendency in the after-notice matters’.”
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NEW DELHI: The Chief Justice of India (CJI), Justice Sanjiv Khanna, on December 10, 2024, announced a significant change in the scheduling of case hearings at the Supreme Court.
He stated that-
“regular matters will now be scheduled from January 2025 onwards in light of the substantial backlog of after-notice matters.”
Context of the Announcement
During the morning session, a counsel raised an insolvency matter, requesting the constitution of a larger bench to address the legal questions involved.
In response, the CJI remarked,
“There is a considerable backlog in after-notice matters. From January, we will begin addressing regular matters.”
He highlighted that the immediate focus of the court would be on resolving pending after-notice cases.
Understanding Supreme Court Case Categorization
To better comprehend the decision, it is essential to differentiate between the types of cases heard by the Supreme Court:
- Regular Matters:
These are admitted cases requiring full-fledged arguments, typically scheduled for final hearings. Regular matters are conventionally listed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
- After-Notice Matters:
These involve cases where the court has issued notices to the opposing party but has not yet admitted the matter. Decisions in these cases revolve around whether the appeal should proceed or be dismissed.
Supreme Court’s Schedule and Hearing System
As per standard practice, the Supreme Court has designated specific days for different types of cases:
- Mondays and Fridays: Admission or miscellaneous matters are heard.
- Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays: Reserved for regular hearing matters, where detailed arguments take place.
However, after Justice Sanjiv Khanna assumed the role of Chief Justice, a new notification was issued revising this schedule.
The updated system prioritizes after-notice matters, and consequently:
- Regular hearing matters will not be listed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays until January 2025.
- After-notice miscellaneous matters are now prioritized for these days.
- Special benches or part-heard cases may still be listed in the afternoon sessions or as per the directions of the bench.
Goal of the Revised Schedule
This adjustment is a response to the “significant backlog in after-notice matters“ and aims to streamline the Supreme Court’s functioning while addressing the case backlog.
The system is designed to ensure that cases requiring relatively quicker decisions (after-notice matters) are resolved promptly, thereby improving judicial efficiency.
Conclusion
The decision to prioritize after-notice matters reflects the judiciary’s commitment to tackling delays and reducing pendency. By reserving dedicated time slots for these cases, the Supreme Court seeks to alleviate the burden of backlog while maintaining its focus on equitable justice.
Regular matters are set to resume in January 2025, aligning with the judiciary’s strategic plan to balance efficiency and fairness.
“There is a considerable backlog in after-notice matters. From January, we will begin addressing regular matters,”
-as remarked by CJI Justice Sanjiv Khanna, underscores the urgency and strategic importance of this reform.
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on CJI Khanna
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