Won't List Matters Unnecessarily Mentioned By Lawyers : CJI Surya Kant

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Tuesday expressed serious unhappiness with advocates continuing the practice of making oral mentions seeking listing of matters.

Reminding everyone that a system for the automatic listing of cases has already been put in place, the CJI said that there was no need for making oral mentioning everyday morning.

Unhappy with the sight of several lawyers queuing up before the bench to mention matters, CJI said, "All of you know very well that matters will be listed. Why you are unnecessarily mentioning? The entire impression is given to the clients that without mentioning, the matters won't be listed. This impression I will dismantle."

The Chief Justice issued a stern warning by saying, "If lawyers are unnecessarily mentioning, I will not list those matters."

"I am restraining myself from making further comments. You know very well that if defects are cured, the matters will be listed. But still you make mention, for obvious reasons," CJI added.

Soon after assuming charge as the Chief Justice of India, CJI Surya Kant had issued a circular last November stating that matters will be automatically listed within two days on the curing of filing defects. The circular was issued to obviate the practice of oral mentioning to list matters.

The Supreme Court cause list in recent days carries a note at the top informing advocates about the automatic listing mechanism for fresh matters, introduced pursuant to a circular dated November 29, 2025.

The note states that urgent matters such as bail, death penalty, habeas corpus, eviction or dispossession, demolition, and other cases involving urgent interim relief will be listed within two working days after verification of the filing and curing of defects.

For all other fresh cases, the circular provides that they will be listed on the next Monday or Friday, depending on the day on which verification of the filing and curing of defects are completed.

The note further clarifies that listing is automatic and there is no requirement for advocates to mention the case before the Court for listing.