Disposals Higher Than Filing Of New Cases in First 40 Days Of CJI DY Chandrachud's Tenure

In the first 40 days of the tenure of Justice DY Chandrachud as the Chief Justice of India, a total of 6,844 cases were disposed, the figures have revealed. This disposal is higher than the number of new cases instituted during this period - 5,898.

From the time when Chief Justice Chandrachud took up the mantle as the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court as well as its administrative head, a total of 6,844 cases were disposed of against the 5,898 new cases filed. Therefore, on an average, 228 cases were given finality by the top court every day, as against the 179 new cases which have been instituted daily. In the last week alone before the winter vacation, a total of 1,663 cases were disposed of.

Soon after assuming office on November 9, CJI Chandrachud had decided to give a special priority for the disposal of transfer petitions and bail applications. A decision was taken to list at least 10 transfer petitions and 10 bail applications before each bench everyday.

"After having a full court meeting we have decided that every bench everyday we will take 10 transfer petitions every day. So we have 13 benches going on with the present strength. So we will be disposing of 130 cases per day and 650 per week. So at the end of five weeks which we have before closing before winter vacations, all the transfer petitions will be over", CJI had said on November 18.

"I have also directed that we will give priority to bail matters. So 10 bail matters every day after 10 transfer petitions. Because that is a matter of personal liberty. And 10 transfer petitions because those are family matters, followed by 10 bail matters across all benches. Then we will start the regular work", CJI had added.

Of the total number of disposals during this period, 1,163 are bail applications and 1,353 are transfer petitions. 

Recently Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, while responding to the questions of certain members of the Rajya Sabha on the output of Indian courts, had expressed his concern about the growing pendency of cases before the Supreme Court. With the figures of pending cases touching an astounding 70,000, Rijiju said that it would unnecessarily increase the burden of the highest constitutional court of the land to weigh in on minor procedural matters like bail applications. "If the Supreme Court starts hearing bail applications and starts hearing all frivolous PILs, it will definitely cause a lot of extra burden, because Supreme Court by and large is treated as a constitutional court," Rijiju said. Since November, the Narendra Modi-led government has been engaged in a war of words with the apex court over issues like the collegium system, vacancies in courts, and pendency of cases.

Two days after the law minister's criticism, in what appeared to be a pointed response, Chief Justice Chandrachud said that no case was too small for the top court. While hearing an 'absolutely shocking case' of an Uttar Pradesh man convicted of electricity theft, but awarded nine consecutive sentences running into 18 years, the chief justice said, "No case is too small for the Supreme Court and no case is too big. Because we are here to answer the call of conscience, and the cry for liberty of citizens. That is why we are here. These are not one-off cases. When you sit here and burn the midnight oil, you realise everyday there is one case or another like that."