Supreme Court Directs Exceptionally Urgent Matters to Be Mentioned Only Before CJI Bench

In a significant procedural directive, the Supreme Court of India has ruled that “exceptionally urgent matters” must be mentioned exclusively before the bench headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI), even when the CJI is presiding over a Constitution bench.

The circular, issued on April 6, clarifies that all such urgent matters—defined as those that cannot wait for the regular listing process—are to be brought solely before Court No. 1. This directive introduces a clear procedural shift aimed at streamlining how urgent cases are presented before the apex court.

The court explicitly stated, “Mentioning of exceptionally urgent matters… is permitted before Court No. 1, even when the Hon’ble Chief Justice is presiding over a constitution bench.” It further underscored that such mentioning will not be allowed before any other bench under any circumstances.

This marks a departure from the earlier practice, where lawyers could mention urgent matters before the seniormost available judge if the CJI was occupied or unavailable. By centralising the process, the court has reinforced the primacy of the CJI’s bench in handling matters of exceptional urgency.

The directive is expected to have a direct impact on court procedures, ensuring uniformity and reducing ambiguity in the listing of urgent cases, while consolidating judicial discretion within the office of the Chief Justice of India.