NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India T S Thakur on Tuesday mooted the idea of constituting a special bench to hear urgent matters like bail pleas and other cases during the Christmas vacation beginning this week.
CJI Thakur’s attempt is likely to cut down the pendency of cases in the apex court. The Constitution bench too could be sitting for two hours on Mondays and Fridays to complete hearing on pending cases.
“On Mondays and Fridays, judges get free by 1 pm-1.30 pm. We can request judges to stay back to hear constitution bench cases,” the Chief Justice said.
Constitution benches consist of at least five judges of the apex court and decide on any case that warrants a substantial question of law and needs interpretation of the Constitution.
Thakur, hearing oral mentioning of cases, said pending cases could come up sequentially for regular hearing of constitution benches. The Aadhaar unique identity case is one such case pending before the court.
From 1950, the number of constitution benches has come down. According to the Supreme Court website, as on 1 March, there are 29 constitution bench matters pending.