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Context:
A large number of cases are filed before the Supreme Court every year, even as thousands of other cases are already pending. How does the Supreme Court decide which cases to prioritise?
Prioritization of Special Leave Petitions (SLPs)
- SC prioritizes SLPs over full-length hearings.
- Three days a week for SLP hearings, Mondays and Fridays for fresh cases.
- Aims to reduce time on detailed hearings and clear backlog.
Current Case Backlog
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- Over 82,000 pending cases.
- SC accepts only 14% of filed SLPs.
- 60,000 SLPs heard annually to decide admission.
- SLPs make up 92.4% of the docket.
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Average SLP Hearing Duration
- Each hearing lasts 1 minute 33 seconds.
- Helps reduce pendency but extends delays for regular cases.
Previous Chief Justices’ Approach
- CJI D.Y. Chandrachud focused on regular hearings on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
- Regular case pendency reduced from 28,682 to 22,000 during his tenure (Nov 2022 – Nov 2024).
Supreme Court Registry’s Role
- Two divisions: administrative and judicial.
- Cases listed as “fresh matters.”
- Notices sent for replies if cases are not dismissed.
- Cases needing hearings listed for decisions on admission.
Conclusion
- Prioritizing SLPs reduces backlog but extends regular case pendency.
- Balanced approach needed to manage both SLPs and regular cases efficiently.
