CJI Kant initiates key procedural reset at SC

These categories have been inserted ahead of transfer petitions, orders, public interest litigations and part-heard matters, signalling a clear institutional preference for cases involving heightened vulnerability.

- Utkarsh Anand

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Monday initiated a significant overhaul of the Supreme Court's functioning, introducing mandatory timelines for oral arguments and restructuring the court's listing priorities to ensure faster, more predictable, and inclusive justice delivery.

Through two administrative circulars issued on Monday, the apex court formally operationalised reforms that justice Kant had flagged soon after assuming office on November 24, including reducing delays, rationalising court time, and ensuring that the justice system meaningfully served ordinary litigants and vulnerable groups.

In a move likely to fundamentally alter courtroom practice at the Supreme Court, the first circular mandates that all lawyers, including senior advocates, will now be bound by prefixed and strictly enforced timelines while arguing cases. The measure is aimed at improving court management, ensuring equitable distribution of judicial working hours, and addressing longstanding concerns about protracted hearings.

“In order to facilitate effective court management and equitable distribution of court working hours and to ensure speedy and proper administration of justice,” stated the circular, a standard operating procedure (SoP) for oral arguments will apply “with immediate effect” to all post-notice and regular hearing matters.