NEW DELHI: To improve crowd control and efficiency in the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of India T S Thakur will hear cases in the slot system to avoid congestion on the premises.
The slot system will hear cases in batches and will lead to their better management. Though the volume of judicial work has increased, not an inch of space has been added to the court complex.
As per the proposal floated by the Chief Justice, cases listed as 1 to 15 will be heard between 10.30 am and 11.30 am, cases 16 to 30 between 11.30 am and 12.30 pm and cases 31-40 between 12.30 pm and 1 pm, and so on.
Overcrowding in the Supreme Court is a major problem, especially on miscellaneous days (Mondays and Fridays) reserved by the apex court for hearing fresh petitions and PILs. It causes great difficulties, especially for arguing counsels who struggle to make it to the courtrooms through crowded corridors. On these days, 10,000 lawyers descend on the complex with their clients, and 29 judges in 12-14 courtrooms hear 1,500-2,000 cases in five hours flat.
A few months ago, the Supreme Court had prohibited law students and interns who are not enrolled as advocates from entering the complex on Mondays and Fridays.
“This system will pave the way for easing the pressure of miscellaneous days,” said an official from the Supreme Court Bar Association.
The Bar Association has also suggested that there should be uniform lunch hours for benches to avoid difficulties for lawyers, and that all judges should not go for lunch together. This will lead to fewer adjournments.
