Breaking: No Mentioning Except In Extremely Urgent Cases, Says New CJI Ranjan Gogoi

On his very first day as the ‘first among the equals’, Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi did away with the morning ritual of ‘mentioning’ before Court 1 by Advocates-on-record and other junior counsel of urgent matters and fresh pleas, appeals and interim applications for listing.

Since the CJI is the administrative head of Supreme Court, mentioning for inter alia early listing, tagging, filing interventions or replies, was done before the first court only and the same had evolved into a twenty minute long practice everyday at 10:30 AM.

“No mentioning! We are working out the parameters....if someone is being released today, then yes....if someone is being hanged today, then yes....if somebody is being evicted today, then yes....if there is risk of demolition, yes....beyond that, No!”, categorically stated the newly appointed Chief Justice on Wednesday.

Chief Justice Gogoi also rebuked Advocate Mathews Nedumpara when the latter sought to extend greetings him as “captain of the ship that is the judiciary”- “This is not required, Mr. Nedumpara! This is not the place!”

When the Counsel attempted to make a mention, saying that he has flown all the way from the Mumbai in the morning, the CJ refused, standing his ground, remarking, “You May have flown in from anywhere”.

Subsequently, Advocate Prashant Bhushan also sought to mention a plea in the light of attempts to deport 7 Rohingyas to Myanmar. “They will be killed if that happens”, he advanced. The CJ declined to grant an immediate listing without perusing the contents of the application.

“we have already lost 5 minutes”, said the Chief Justice to dissuade further mentioning.