'No Tarikh Pe Tarikh': SC Orders Automatic Listing of All Urgent Matters Within 2 Days

The Supreme Court has brought in a sweeping overhaul of its listing procedures, marking one of the most significant administrative shifts in recent years.

A set of four circulars issued on Saturday lays out a new system that ensures urgent matters, especially those linked to personal liberty, receive automatic and time bound listing without litigants having to plead for attention.

Automatic Listing To Replace Oral Mentioning

The changes will take effect from December 1 and are designed to eliminate delays that often push urgent matters into long queues. CJI Surya Kant had hinted earlier this week that a new system was being finalised, adding that the goal was to remove the need for parties to rush to the bench for oral mentioning immediately after filing.

The circulars state that "no necessity for litigants to mention their cases before the Court for listing as the fresh cases will be listed automatically". The emphasis is on ensuring that key matters, particularly those affecting liberty, do not get stuck behind procedural bottlenecks.

According to the circulars, "all fresh cases involving liberty of individuals and where urgent interim orders are sought for, where the case is verified, after curing of defects, will be listed within next two working days." The court has identified six categories that qualify for automatic listing. These include regular bail, anticipatory bail, cancellation of bail, death penalty issues, habeas corpus petitions, eviction or dispossession matters, demolition related petitions, and any other case involving urgent interim relief.

New Protocol For Bail Petitions And Emergency Listings

To fast track bail matters, the Supreme Court has made it compulsory for petitioners to serve an advance copy of their plea to the Nodal Officer or Standing Counsel representing the concerned State, Union Territory, or the Union of India.

The circular also notes that in rare situations involving anticipatory bail, death penalty, habeas corpus, eviction or dispossession and demolition matters, parties may seek a listing even before the scheduled date. Such a request can be made between 10 am and 10.30 am.

For all other fresh matters not covered under the urgent categories, the existing automatic listing process will continue without the need for oral mentioning.

Encouragement For Junior Counsels And Push Against Adjournments

The Supreme Court has reaffirmed its decision to bar senior advocates from orally mentioning cases. Instead, junior counsels will be encouraged to step forward in urgent circumstances.

Since assuming office, CJI Kant has repeatedly emphasised that reducing pendency is his foremost priority. In line with this objective, the court has also decided that adjournment requests for long pending regular hearing matters will not be entertained through letters.