CJI Surya Kant Establishes Written Requests for Urgent Case Listings on First Day in Office

Justice Surya Kant, on his first day as CJI, introduces a new norm requiring written requests for urgent case listings. Oral mentions will only be allowed in exceptional cases. He presided over 17 cases during his initial proceedings.

Justice Surya Kant, on his first day as Chief Justice of India (CJI), introduced a new rule requiring written requests for urgent case listings. Oral requests will only be considered in exceptional cases, such as those involving the death penalty or personal liberty. This change was announced during proceedings where Justice Kant's bench heard 17 cases over two hours.

Justice Kant officially took charge as the 53rd CJI after swearing an oath in Hindi at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Upon arriving at the Supreme Court, he paid respects to Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B R Ambedkar by placing flowers at their statues. He then led a three-judge bench in courtroom number one, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Atul S Chandurkar.

New Procedures for Urgent Listings

The CJI clarified that urgent listing requests should be submitted in writing through a mentioning slip, except under extraordinary circumstances. "If you have any urgent mentioning, give your mentioning slip along with the cause of urgency; the registrar will examine," he stated. This procedure aims to streamline urgent case listings.

Previously, former CJI Sanjiv Khanna had halted oral mentions for urgent listings, but his successor, Justice B R Gavai, reinstated them. Typically, lawyers mention cases orally before the CJI for urgent consideration by benches.

Encouragement for Junior Lawyers

Justice Kant encouraged a junior lawyer who sought an adjournment on behalf of a senior advocate. "Take this opportunity, you should argue... If you argue, we may give a little discount," he remarked. The junior lawyer declined, citing lack of instructions to argue.

In another case, families of alleged extrajudicial killing victims in Manipur requested a court-monitored investigation. Their counsel argued that the families deserve to know what happened. Justice Kant noted an ongoing probe and issued notice to determine the investigation's status by the NIA.

Handling Sensitive Matters

The bench also heard an appeal challenging an Allahabad High Court decision regarding a lawyer's removal from a government post. CJI Kant advised against personal targeting, stating some issues should be handled administratively. The petitioners later withdrew their appeal with court permission.

Justice Kant's oath ceremony was attended by President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and former CJI Gavai. He will serve as CJI until February 9, 2027, when he turns 65. A dinner hosted by President Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre followed the ceremony, attended by dignitaries including Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The new procedural norms introduced by Justice Kant aim to bring efficiency and clarity to urgent case listings in the Supreme Court. His tenure as CJI is expected to focus on maintaining judicial integrity while addressing pressing legal matters with diligence.

With inputs from PTI