Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on Tuesday expressed strong objection to the repeated mention of cases by different advocates. He called the tactic used to seek a favorable hearing date inappropriate and a threat to the administration of justice.
“This is a new approach,” the CJI said, visibly unhappy.
“Different lawyers mention listing of the same case and once the judge blinks, you get some dates. This is the practice that is emerging. The little discretion I have as CJI will never work in your favour. You cannot take advantage of the courts of windmills. My personal credibility is at stake, and I have to follow everyone’s standard rules,” he added.
The CJI’s scathing observation came in the wake of a request to mention the issue of mining leases, which had been raised a day earlier.
He further urged advocates to stop referring to cases repeatedly, saying: “You’re just trying your luck.”
Since taking office in November 2022, Chief Justice Chandrachud has introduced a number of reforms aimed at making the Supreme Court more efficient. These include streamlining the case list, improving the operations of the registry and introducing new technology solutions.
In April, the Supreme Court launched an initiative to enhance access to justice by integrating WhatsApp messaging with its IT services. The system allows advocates to receive automatic updates on case filings. As part of the initiative, the CJI also shared the official WhatsApp number of the Supreme Court.