New Roster System introduced in Supreme Court

Weeks after judges of the Supreme Court themselves called into question the manner in which cases were being listed at the apex court, a new Roster system has been introduced.

The change, which will take effect from February 5, comes in the wake of the press conference called for by four of the senior most judges of the Supreme Court.

The Roster shows the type of cases that will be listed before Benches headed by the twelve senior most judges of the Supreme Court – Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan Lokur, Kurian Joseph, AK Sikri, SA Bobde, RK Agrawal, NV Ramana, Arun Mishra, AK Goel and Rohinton Nariman.

Chief Justice Dipak Misra, the master of the Roster, will hear all fresh Public Interest Litigation (PILs) and Letter Petitions filed in the Court. He will also hear Election Matters, Social Justice Matters, Contempt of Court Matters, matters dealing with appointment of Constitutional functionaries and law officers, and matters related to Commissions of Enquiry, among others.

Justice Chelameswar’s assignment includes Labour Matters, Land Acquisition, Consumer Protection, Compensation Matters, etc. Justice Gogoi will hear Personal Law matters, cases related to state excise and trading in liquor, among others. Justice Lokur will hear Environmental Law matters, Social Justice matters, cases related the Armed Forces etc, while Justice Joseph’s assignment includes Family Law Matters and Service Law Matters, among others.

Benches headed by Justices Arun Mishra and Rohinton Nariman will hear matters relating to the establishment and recognition of educational institutions, including medical and engineering colleges.