The Supreme Court on Friday(22nd Nov) has stayed the disqualification of six Chief Parliamentary Secretaries in Himachal Pradesh, reversing the High Court’s ruling that deemed their appointments unconstitutional. While no new appointments can be made, the matter is scheduled for further hearing in four weeks, responding to a challenge by BJP leader Kalpana Devi.
The Supreme Court, under Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, will no longer schedule regular hearing matters on Wednesdays and Thursdays, focusing instead on miscellaneous matters like bail pleas on these days. This decision aims to address the backlog of 83,410 cases and represents a significant administrative change since Khanna’s appointment.
Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna announced a new case allocation roster effective November 11, organizing 16 benches. The CJI and senior judges will handle letter petitions and public interest litigations, focusing on social justice, election disputes, and habeas corpus cases. Justice Surya Kant’s bench will also address election-related matters.
Today, On 12th November, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, discontinued oral mentions for urgent hearings, requiring requests to be submitted via email or written slips. This change aims to streamline processes and enhance efficiency, though critics argue it may hinder immediate access for genuinely urgent cases needing swift judicial response.
Justice S. Ravindra Bhat’s retirement on October 20 allowed Justice A.S. Oka to join the Supreme Court Collegium, now led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna. This reorganization follows the former Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud’s retirement. The collegium plays a vital role in judicial appointments, impacting transparency and autonomy in the Indian judiciary.