Supreme Court SOP: Radical Change in Supreme Court Case Hearings! Lawyers Must Follow Strict Rules, New Guidelines Issued
Supreme Court SOP: In a historic move to accelerate the judicial process and reduce delays, the Supreme Court of India has taken a significant step. Under the directions of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and other honorable judges, a new set of guidelines regarding case hearings has been issued. This new ‘Standard Operating Procedure’ (SOP) has been introduced primarily to ensure the proper utilization of the court’s valuable time and the speedy disposal of thousands of pending cases. These rules are to be implemented with immediate effect, bringing a sigh of relief to litigants awaiting justice.
Strict Rules for Lawyers in New Guidelines
The circular issued to make court proceedings smoother and more efficient outlines several critical changes. Lawyers are now required to be much more time-conscious regarding hearings. The new rules are detailed below:
- Timeline for Oral Arguments: Oral arguments can no longer continue indefinitely. All Senior Advocates and Advocates-on-Record (AoR) must inform the court at least one day prior to the hearing exactly how much time they will require for oral arguments. This has been made mandatory for all ‘Post Notice’ and ‘Regular Hearing’ matters.
- Online Submission: This time estimation cannot simply be conveyed verbally. The timeline must be submitted via the court’s designated online portal or appearance slip. This ensures transparency in the digital record system.
- Written Notes or Submissions: To ensure the core issues of the case are not lost, Arguing Counsels or Senior Advocates must file a concise written note. However, this note must not exceed 5 pages. This will reduce unnecessary clutter of information and allow judges to focus quickly on the main issues.
- Deadline for Submission of Notes: This written note must be submitted to the court at least 3 days before the date of the hearing. Simultaneously, to maintain transparency, a copy of the same must be provided to the other side.
- Strict Adherence to Time: Merely intimating the time limit is not enough; lawyers must conclude their arguments within that fixed timeline. The court has indicated a strict stance on adhering to these time limits.
Impact and Significance on the Judicial System
This decision by the Supreme Court is being viewed as an unprecedented and landmark step. One of the biggest challenges in the Indian judicial system is the mounting backlog of cases. Often, hearings drag on for days without any verdict or decision being reached. It is expected that these new guidelines will significantly curb such delays.
By capping the time for oral arguments and limiting the size of written notes, court time will be saved, enabling the hearing of a larger number of cases within the same period. This initiative by the Chief Justice is crucial for litigants, as it offers them hope for speedier justice. Legal experts believe that this will make the judicial process more dynamic and people-friendly.
