CJI Lalit's Reform : Regular Hearing Matters To Be Taken Up First On Non-Miscellaneous Days; Miscellaneous Matters At Afternoon Session

In what appears to be a move to prioritise final hearing matters, Chief Justice of India UU Lalit has introduced a change in the order of hearing of cases on non-miscellaneous days (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday).

As per the causelist published for August 30, regular hearing matters will be taken in the morning itself. The miscellaneous after notice matters will be taken during the post-lunch session.

For the uninitiated, miscellaneous days in Supreme Court are Mondays and Fridays, where the fresh petitions are listed for admission hearings. The other days are meant for final hearing matters (called non-miscellaneous days, or NMD in SC lawyers' parlance). However, certain fresh matters after notice are listed for consideration on NMDs as well.

The norm till now was to hear the miscellaneous matters first and the regular hearing matters after that. This meant that very often fresh matters take up the Court's time even on NMDs, leaving less time for regular hearing matters, which are taken up late, or not taken up at all.

"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," the causelist stated.

The change introduced by CJI Lalit will ensure that final hearing matters are taken up and that they will get adequate time at least till 1 PM for hearing.

Many Supreme Court lawyers have commented that this is a positive change.