Pilot Project To Streamline Listing To Commence On Monday, Other Issues To Be Resolved In Phases: CJI Surya Kant

Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on Friday said that his first priority is to streamline the listing of matters and remove unpredictability in the cause list system. He announced that a pilot initiative to address the uncertainty around listings will begin on Monday and asked for cooperation from the Bar to make it work.

Speaking at the felicitation function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association, the CJI explained that reducing time spent on mentioning will allow both the Bar and the Court to use that time for constructive hearings.

“I shared some ideas on how I am starting first of all to streamline the listing of the matters, the cause list and not only the listing of the matters in terms of the day. That unpredictability that uncertainty that how it can be effectively addressed so that your valuable time in making mentioning and the court's time is also not wasted and we can utilise that time for some constructive purposes. So that first issue probably as a pilot project or as an initiative we are commencing on a Monday”, he said.

He acknowledged that the new system may face initial difficulties but conveyed confidence that any issues will be resolved with support and suggestions from the Bar.

He said that a phased approach will be taken to resolve issues highlighted by the Bar, including basic facilities for the Bar Association, and committed to providing periodic updates at least once every three months on what has been completed and what remains pending.

“I think I must give you also, if not monthly, after three months – tri-monthly report I will give that this much has been done, this much has to be done”, he said.

On the ongoing construction of the new Supreme Court building, the CJI said Phase 1 is already underway and will provide adequate space to address long-pending issues. He clarified that urgent needs of the Bar will be addressed without waiting for project completion.

He stressed that challenges in district courts, high courts and the Supreme Court will have to be handled collectively. The support and commitment of his colleagues on the Bench, he noted, will be his main strength in carrying out institutional improvements. He also acknowledged the work of previous Chief Justices of India and said their leadership forms the benchmark for future progress.

Earlier in the event, SCBA President Vikas Singh had welcomed Justice Surya Kant and assured full support from the Bar. Singh said the SCBA decided to organise the felicitation function and that another will soon be held for newly appointed Supreme Court judges so that expectations of the Bar can be conveyed at the beginning of their Supreme Court careers. He listed the SCBA's demands relating to social security for lawyers, facilities for litigants and improvements in infrastructure.

The CJI also spoke about his long association with the Bar. He described his tenure as Advocate General of Haryana, when he was authorised to visit district Bar Associations and allocate funds to resolve infrastructure needs, beginning with libraries and later computerisation and other facilities. He also recalled intervening in disputes in the High Court, resolving rifts within the Ludhiana Bar by amalgamating splinter groups, and creating a young lawyers forum that conducted weekly workshops on legal subjects.

He stressed that the Bar is part of his family and that any difficulty faced by a Bar member is his responsibility. “Bar I always treat as part of my family. If you have any kind of difficulty, this is my difficulty, this my responsibility to take care of not only the Association or the Bar members as a whole. Even if an individual member is experiencing any kind of difficulty it is my duty, virtually as head of the family, to look after you”, he said.

His performance as Chief Justice, he said, will be measured by how far he meets the expectations of the Bar, and he emphasised that fulfilling institutional goals will require continued cooperation from the legal fraternity.

The CJI assured that litigants, the Bar and the Bench will not be disappointed and expressed confidence that the justice system will move forward.

“We will have an introspection, we will see the journey which they have already crossed and the destination how much it is left. With your help, you being on both sides (the Bench and the Bar), we will achieve that journey, we will achieve that goal. Thank you very much for promising me the cooperation, and again I assure you that I will not disappoint the bench, the bar, the consumer - litigants for whom actually we owe our existence. The system will definitely work, it will come out with a glorified future.”