SC pulls up lawyers for misusing mentioning facility

The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up lawyers seeking urgent hearing in matters on the ground, which was not actually found in the case files, wasting time of the Chief Justice of India.

Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, presiding over a bench, also comprising Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, expressed indignation over the mentioning facility being misused by lawyers to seek early hearing in certain cases.

“At times, we find what is mentioned is totally different from what is there is in the paper-book (case files). How would the system work? Everyday, the Chief Justice of India is spending about an hour or so in going through those files (on urgent hearing),” the CJI said.

“Tell us, what is the way out,” he further asked, as the lawyers mentioned the matters for early listing of their cases.

The CJI further said he had already clarified that the mentioning facility should be utilised in cases involving question of liberty, demolition of cases or establishments. Before the start of court proceedings, lawyers make a beeline before the CJI's court at 10.30 am to make a mention for early hearing of cases.

Justice Gogoi, after assuming the office as CJI on October 3, last said fresh parameters would be worked out for mentioning the matters which required hearing on priority and urgent basis.

He said only those cases where death penalty was to be imposed, or demolition of a house was to be carried should be mentioned for urgent hearing.