Urgent cases to be mentioned only before CJI-led bench: Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has said that "exceptionally urgent matters" that cannot wait for the listing process have to be mentioned only before the Chief Justice of India (CJI), even if he is busy presiding over a constitution bench.

The top court, in a circular issued on April 6, said, "Mentioning of exceptionally urgent matters, which cannot await listing before the court as per circular dated November 29, 2025, is permitted before Court No 1, even when the Chief Justice is presiding over a constitution bench."

In practice, lawyers and litigants mentioned the urgent matters for listing and hearing before the senior most judge of the apex court, if the CJI is either unavailable or busy heading a constitution bench.