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New guidelines to streamline functioning of SC from Dec 1: Automatic listing of cases, urgent matters to be heard in 2 days

As per the new Supreme Court guidelines, there will be “no necessity for the litigants to mention their cases before the Court for listing as the fresh cases will be listed automatically.”

2 min readNew DelhiNov 29, 2025 06:26 PM IST

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing the petition alleging the disappearance of Rohingya persons, and seeking that if they are deported, it should be done only through due process. (File)

The Supreme Court has brought out new guidelines streamlining the listing of cases for hearing, including automatic listing of fresh cases and hearing on cases involving individual liberty in two days.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant had earlier this week assured that he is planning to put in place changes which will help do away with the mentioning, whereby parties seeking an urgent hearing to bring it to the attention of the bench soon after filing. The changes will take effect from December 1.

As per the new guidelines, there will be “no necessity for the litigants to mention their cases before the Court for listing as the fresh cases will be listed automatically.”

As per the circulars in this regard, “All fresh cases involving liberty of individuals and where urgent interim orders are sought for, where the case is verified, after curing of defects, will be listed within next two working days.”

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To ensure expeditious disposal of all bail petitions, advance copy of the plea shall have to be served on the concerned nodal officer or standing counsel for the respondent – Union of India or state or Union territory – and “in case of an exceptionally urgent matter relating to anticipatory bail, death penalty, habeas corpus, eviction/dispossession and demolition, which cannot await listing on the scheduled date”, the request can be made between 10 am and 10.30 am.

All other categories of fresh cases will be listed automatically as per existing practice and there will be no necessity for the litigants to mention their case before the court for listing, the circulars added.

The court has also decided to continue with the practice of not allowing the senior counsel to make oral mentioning before any court and to encourage young junior counsels to do so in case of emergency.

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After taking over, CJI Kant had said that his first priority would be to deal with pendency. Keeping with this, the apex court, to ensure disposal of old regular hearing matters, has also decided against permitting letters seeking adjournment of such cases.