Supreme Court Overhauls Urgent Listing Process: Same-Day Mentions No Longer Guaranteed

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In a significant shift, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has abolished the practice of same-day listing of matters, except in cases involving personal liberty or imminent execution. This move was announced on his first day in office, signaling a change in the Supreme Court's morning routine. The CJI emphasized that the era of daily queues for oral mentioning must come to an end. To ensure a more structured and efficient process, all requests for urgent listing must now be submitted in writing through a letter of urgency. These letters will be examined by the registrar (judicial administration) before being presented to the CJI for administrative directions. This new directive marks a departure from the approach of his predecessor, Justice Bhushan R Gavai, who had dedicated 10-15 minutes each morning to hearing oral mentions. The change aims to reduce congestion in the CJI's court and prioritize genuinely urgent matters. The practice of same-day listing has undergone changes under various CJIs in the past. CJI Kant has long expressed reservations about this practice, and his comments in September hinted at his intention to limit same-day listings to exceptional cases. The new system is expected to bring a sense of order and discipline to the Supreme Court's morning routine, ensuring that only matters that require immediate attention receive priority. This change is likely to impact lawyers and litigants, who will now need to follow a more formal procedure for requesting urgent listing.