Urgent Cases To Be Mentioned Only Before CJI-Led Bench: SC

New Delhi, Apr 7: The Supreme Court of India has directed that all “exceptionally urgent matters” must be mentioned only before the bench led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI), even if the CJI is presiding over a Constitution bench.

In a circular issued on April 6, the apex court clarified that such urgent cases, which cannot wait for the regular listing process, will be taken up exclusively in Court No. 1 before the CJI.

The court also made it clear that mentioning of these matters will not be permitted before any other bench, marking a departure from the earlier practice.

Traditionally, in the absence or unavailability of the CJI, urgent matters were allowed to be mentioned before the seniormost judge of the court, especially when the CJI was occupied with Constitution bench proceedings.

The latest directive reinforces that even during such instances, all exceptionally urgent mentions must be placed solely before the CJI-led bench. (Agencies)