The Supreme Court has decided that it will not hear any regular matters (matters requiring lengthy final hearings) on Wednesdays and Thursdays, days which are otherwise earmarked specifically for hearing such cases.
Instead, miscellaneous matters including transfer petitions and bail matters will be listed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, a circular issued by the Court on Saturday said.
"Henceforth, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after notice miscellaneous matters, including Transfer Petitions and Bail Matters shall be listed and no regular hearing matter shall be listed on Wednesday and Thursday till further orders," the circular clarified.
Further, special bench matters or part-heard matters, whether miscellaneous or regular hearing which are directed to be listed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, shall be listed in the post-lunch session or as per directions of the competent authority, the circular further said.
This arrangement shall continue till further orders.
This is the first major reform undertaken by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna took charge as the 51st CJI on November 11.
The object of this arrangement would be to reduce the pendency of cases at the top court, which currently stand at 83,410.
[Read Circular]