Today, On 14th May, SCAORA urges CJI Gavai to reinstate the “Letter Circulation Mechanism” to improve court efficiency and fairness. This reform aims to reduce delays, minimize burdens on litigants, and ensure smoother, timely proceedings in the Supreme Court.
New Delhi: As Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai marks his first day in office, the Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association (SCAORA) has made two key requests aimed at improving the functioning of the court system.
These requests highlight important challenges and suggest reforms to enhance the court proceedings’ efficiency and fairness.
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In a formal communication, SCAORA highlighted their confidence in the new Chief Justice’s leadership and appealed for changes that would make court operations more efficient, fair, and convenient for all stakeholders.
SCAORA began their message with warm words of appreciation and respect, saying,
“On behalf of the Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association (SCAORA), we extend our warmest Congratulations and heartfelt welcome as you assume office as the 52nd Chief Justice of India. Your distinguished career, unwavering commitment to justice, and deep understanding of Constitutional Principles inspire confidence in your leadership. We are confident that under your stewardship, the Supreme Court will continue to uphold the highest standards of fairness, efficiency, and accessibility.”
After this, they drew attention to two specific areas where immediate reforms are needed within the Supreme Court Registry. The first and most urgent demand was the reinstatement of the Letter Circulation Mechanism, which earlier allowed advocates to send letters in advance to inform the court of their genuine inability to appear in a case and request an adjournment.
This system was recently discontinued, which has caused significant difficulties for many advocates.
According to SCAORA,
“The long-standing practice of circulating adjournment letters in the Supreme Court was discontinued owing to the decision of the competent authority, which has caused severe impediment to the members of the Association over the past several months, who despite being indisposed owing to genuine causes, are unable to request the Hon’ble Court in advance.”
The association strongly believes that this earlier practice was a vital support system for lawyers, especially when they were unavailable due to personal or professional reasons. It helped avoid last-minute surprises in court and allowed smoother case management.
SCAORA explained,
“This practice, which allowed advocates to inform the Court of their unavailability due to personal or professional commitments, has been a valuable tool in ensuring the efficient functioning of the Court while minimizing any inconvenience to the parties involved, and is requested to be reinstated with immediate effect.”
One of the main issues raised by SCAORA concerns the publication of the sequence of cases in the supplementary list. Currently, the sequence is usually displayed the morning before the hearings, creating confusion and sometimes overlaps due to last-minute listings.
This often leads to difficulties in organizing cases, particularly for lawyers and litigants who need more time to prepare.
Moreover, in rural areas, access to this information can be limited due to technological barriers. SCAORA’s proposal is for “the sequence of matters to be published in the supplementary list the evening before the hearings.”
SCAORA clearly stated,
“It is also pertinent to mention, that restoring the circulation of adjournment letters would enable advocates to promptly inform the Court when they are unable to appear, ensuring that cases are rescheduled in a timely manner, and reducing the risk of adjournments that could disrupt the Court’s schedule and also burden the litigants with financial hardships to engage Senior Advocates for their matters, which ultimately might get adjourned, on account of unavoidable circumstances.”
This, they believe, would allow more time for preparation and reduce the confusion caused by last-minute changes. As SCAORA highlights,
“Advance notice will enable the timely and dignified conduct of court proceedings.”
Another important issue raised by SCAORA is the restoration of the ‘Letter Circulation Mechanism,’ a long-standing practice that was discontinued. Under this system, advocates could request adjournments in advance by sending a letter.
SCAORA argues that the restoration of this mechanism is essential for ensuring fairness and improving the efficiency of court proceedings. They assert that its reinstatement would enable timely rescheduling of cases, thereby reducing the burden on litigants.
Furthermore, it would help in managing the court docket more effectively, ensuring that cases are heard in an orderly manner.
According to SCAORA, the ‘Letter Circulation Mechanism’ is “vital for efficiency, fairness, and minimizing hardship to litigants.” They strongly believe that its return would be a positive step toward improving the court system.
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They concluded with confidence in the positive impact of this reform, stating,
“As members of the Association, individually and collectively, we understand the importance of maintaining the integrity of the Court’s functioning. We are, therefore, confident that the reinstatement of this practice would…”
SCAORA urges CJI B.R. Gavai to give serious consideration to these requests, emphasizing that both measures would contribute to the smooth functioning of the judiciary. Their call is for reforms that ensure fairness, reduce unnecessary burdens on litigants, and promote more efficient court management.
With these changes, the organization believes the court will be better equipped to handle the growing number of cases while maintaining justice and fairness in the legal system.
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