Supreme Court fast-forwards: Noteban among 25 cases to be heard by 5-judge benches

“Take notice that the following five judges bench matters shall be listed before the concerned courts from Monday, the 29th August, 2022 for directions including filing of common compilation, filing of short written submissions and tentative indication with regard to time taken by learned counsel. The matters shall thereafter be listed as per directions of the court,” a notification of the Supreme Court stated.

Significantly, in an interview to The Indian Express on August 14, CJI-designate Lalit spoke about the need to ensure crucial cases are listed on priority. Asked about the delay in cases, he said: “You touched upon that some matters don’t get listed. That is something which we will have to find a solution to…To have Constitution benches sit all year (is one kind of institutional response),” he had said.

Among the key cases likely to be taken up are those challenging the exercise of updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) for Assam (pending since 2016); challenge to the establishment of the Central Bureau of Investigation (pending since 2016); and the case challenging the demonetisation scheme (pending since 2016).

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Also listed for hearing are crucial cases concerning religion including the case seeking classification of Sikhs as a minority community in Punjab (pending since 2010); the PIL challenging the constitutional validity of religious practices of Nikah Halala and polygamy (pending since 2018); the challenge to the practice of ex-communication in the Dawoodi Bohra community (pending since 2004); and the validity of a state law declaring all members of the Muslim community in Andhra Pradesh as part of Backward Classes (pending since 2006).

As of August 1, the Supreme Court’s records show that there are 342 five-judge bench cases, fifteen seven-judge bench cases and 135 nine-judge cases are pending before the Court.