Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant has announced a fresh set of institutional and administrative reforms to enhance transparency, predictability, and efficiency in the working of the Supreme Court.
Speaking at a felicitation ceremony organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), the CJI said the pilot initiative, which would come into effect from Monday, aimed at rationalising the Supreme Court’s listing mechanism and eliminating the chronic unpredictability that has long plagued the Apex Court’s cause-listing process.
He said the top court of the country would periodically publish reports detailing the progress of administrative initiatives undertaken during his tenure. These would be released at least once every quarter.
CJI Kant acknowledged that unpredictability in the cause list has led to substantial time being spent on daily mentions, adversely affecting both case preparation and judicial time. The proposed reform, he said, seeks to streamline the listing workflow governed by the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 and the Registry’s administrative protocols formulated under Article 145 of the Constitution.
“By reducing the time spent on mentioning, we enable both the Bar and the Bench to utilise that bandwidth for substantive hearings,” he remarked, noting that the current system contributes to avoidable adjournments and procedural friction.
The CJI’s comments come in the backdrop of longstanding criticism of the listing system, including observations by committees on judicial reforms and scholarly analyses citing inefficiencies in docket-management—issues also flagged in the context of Article 21 rights relating to access to speedy justice, as recognised in Hussainara Khatoon (1979) and subsequent jurisprudence.
While acknowledging the likelihood of initial operational hurdles, the CJI expressed confidence that iterative feedback from the Bar would help fine-tune the new framework.
He said initial difficulties may arise, but with the cooperation of the bar and the bench, they would be resolved.
He further stated that the Court will adopt a phased, issue-specific reform strategy, prioritising matters highlighted by the SCBA, including infrastructural and welfare concerns.
In a significant step toward ensuring institutional transparency, CJI Kant committed to issuing tri-monthly progress reports detailing the status of administrative reforms—what has been completed, what remains pending, and what additional measures are under consideration.
This move aligns with increasing public expectations for judicial accountability and mirrors practices seen in advanced common-law jurisdictions where periodic administrative disclosures form part of judicial governance norms.
CJI Kant also provided an update on the ongoing construction of the new Supreme Court building complex, noting that Phase I is already underway. The expansion will address longstanding space constraints that have hampered functions of the Registry, litigant amenities, and Bar facilities.
Crucially, he clarified that urgent requirements of the Bar—such as chambers, consultation areas, and basic amenities—will be addressed without waiting for full project completion.
The Chief Justice emphasised that systemic improvement cannot be confined to the apex court alone. Challenges afflicting district courts and High Courts, including infrastructure deficits and docket backlogs, must be remedied collectively—a sentiment consistent with findings in the All India Judges’ Association cases on judicial infrastructure and manpower.
He acknowledged the “unwavering commitment” of his colleagues on the Bench and reaffirmed that the leadership of previous Chief Justices forms the constitutional and administrative benchmark guiding future reforms.
Earlier, SCBA President Vikas Singh extended the Bar’s full support to the new reforms and outlined key demands, including enhanced social-security mechanisms for lawyers, litigant-friendly facilities, and infrastructural upgrades. He noted that another felicitation programme would soon be held for newly appointed judges to communicate expectations at the outset of their Supreme Court tenure.
Reflecting on his professional journey, CJI Kant recounted his tenure as Advocate General of Haryana, during which he was authorised to assess and allocate funds for district Bar Associations—efforts that led to improvements in libraries, digital facilities, and other infrastructure. He also recalled intervening in inter-Bar disputes, including resolving factional divisions within the Ludhiana Bar and establishing a young lawyers’ forum for weekly capacity-building workshops.
Reaffirming his commitment to the Bar, he said he has always regarded the Bar as part of his family. Any hardship faced by a lawyer was his responsibility, as the head of this institution, to address.
The CJI said that his tenure would ultimately be assessed by how effectively he met the expectations of the Bar and litigants, the true consumers of justice. He assured that the Bench, the Bar, and the litigants would not be disappointed.
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