The newly appointed Chief Justice of India UU Lalit has introduced an important change in hearing of cases in Supreme Court on the non-miscellaneous days (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays).
Beginning from August 30, the Supreme Court on non-miscellaneous days, will hear the regular matters in the morning session (10.30 am to 1 pm) while the miscellaneous and after notice matters shall be put for hearing in the afternoon session (2 pm to 4 pm).
This can very well be seen as reflected in the causelist for Tuesday which states that all Benches will begin its Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with the regular hearing cases list till lunch, after which they shall proceeding to miscellaneous matters from 2pm.
The causelist mentions “Regular hearing matters will be listed before this court and will be taken up in the first half of the day i.e. 10.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. in the second half, division bench will re-assemble to take up miscellaneous and after notice matters.”
It was usually the other way earlier when the miscellaneous matters were taken first and then proceed to the regular-hearing.
Due to which, sometimes the regular list would not be taken up due to a paucity of time.
The new CJI Lalit while he was taking up the charge of the reins of the Supreme Court had said that his main focus shall be on three areas mainly
1. Listing of cases;
2. Framework for mentioning of urgent matters;
3. Setting up Constitution benches.
In his brief tenure of 74 days, he wishes to do his best for the judiciary and also to decrease the pendency.