The new single-judge bench will hear appeals in regards to bail and anticipatory bail petitions in cases where offenses involved are liable for punishment of not more than a 7-year jail term.
New Delhi| For the first time since it was founded, the Supreme court will now have a single-judge bench hearing particular types of petitions from Wednesday. The new system has been introduced to deal with the piled up pending cases in the top court.
A supreme court bench typically comprises of two judges.
The new single-judge bench will hear appeals in regards to bail and anticipatory bail petitions in cases where offenses involved are liable for punishment of not more than a 7-year jail term. Earlier, all such cases were heard by two judges bench.
The supreme court had amended its rules in September last year to allow the single-judge bench to hear petitions related to bail, anticipatory bail, and transfer.
Till July last year, as per the law ministry, the court had more than 11.5 lakh pending cases.
Amid the coronavirus emergency and lockdown imposed to curb it, the Supreme Court has been hearing the matters of extreme urgency through video conferencing using apps such as Skype, Facetime, and WhatsApp.
Supreme court secretary-general had issued a circular in March, according to which, Advocate on Record (AOR) or party-in-person was required to first file the petition or an application for all matters involving extreme urgency, preferably through the e-filing mode. Then he had to file another application comprising of synopsis of extreme urgency.
“Since the prevailing situation demands that persons be discouraged from undertaking any kind of journey/travel, the apex court registry is taking all steps necessary to conduct the hearings through remote video conferencing links, and hence AORs/Parties-in-persons are advised to refrain from exercising the option of participating in the hearing through video conferencing link facility available at the SC premises for the present, as that would entail unnecessary and avoidable travel through public spaces,” the circular had read.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
