Justice GR Swaminathan Of Madras High Court Resolves To Decide 445 Second Appeals Pending Since 2010 In 58 Days

Justice G.R Swaminathan of Madras High Court has expressed his resolve to dispose off 445 second appeals pending since the year 2010 within 58 days. 

In a letter addressed to the members of the Bar, the judge, who will be handling the second appeals for the time span of 2010-2014, has made it clear that adjournments won't be granted to ensure expeditious disposal of pending cases.

He has made the proposition to clear all the pending appeals within the end of April, 2022 and urged the bar members to extend their full cooperation.

"I will not even accommodate you for a pass over. When the case is taken up, the counsel should be ready", the letter states.

The Madurai Bench judge has also asked the Senior Counsels not to bother much and consider it as an opportunity for the junior lawyers to get trained.

Moreover, Justice G.R Swaminathan has taken a stern stand that he won't permit the counsels to waste the court's time by making it read the entire judgment appealed against. Therefore, he has instructed the Senior Counsels to send written notes one day in advance. The written notes must contain: i) Synopsis, ii) dates and events, and iii) case laws relied on along with the proposition and relevant paragraph.

About making the order copies available, Justice G.R Swaminathan has clarified that it will be available on the 7th day of dictation of judgment. 

"I am acutely aware that there has been some shortfall on my side. Though I dictated the judgments in open court, for obvious reasons, correction has been a source of discomfort... This time, there will not be any occasion for you to complain", the Judge said.

Requesting the members of the bar to take the proposal seriously, Justice G.R Swaminathan has asked the counsels to contact the clients in the pending appeals from 2010 and find out if they are alive. If they are not, the judge has also asked the counsels to list the particulars of legal representatives and get Vakalats from them.

"Do not embarrass me by making request for listing the second appeals of the subsequent years. The second appeals will be listed seniority wise. My eyes are set only on 2010 appeals", Justice G.R. Swaminathan added.

Justice G.R. Swaminathan intends to begin hearing the second appeals from 14th February and wind up all of them by 30th April.

Click Here To Read Letter