Chief Justice Surya Kant Announces Formation of Seven-Judge Benches to Address Constitutional Backlog The Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, has announced plans to establish multiple seven-judge benches to expedite the resolution of long-pending constitutional references, marking a significant step toward addressing the Supreme Court’s backlog of unresolved legal issues. This decision comes as part of a broader effort to streamline the court’s workload and ensure timely adjudication of high-stakes cases that have remained unresolved for years. The move is expected to accelerate the hearing process and reduce the accumulation of pending matters that have strained the judiciary’s capacity. The announcement was made during a scheduled hearing, which the CJI adjourned to prioritize the formation of these larger benches. In a statement delivered during the proceedings, Kant emphasized that his immediate focus would shift toward organizing the seven-judge panels, stating, “I am going to set up seven-judge benches soon, and hence, I may not get the time to hear the present matter.” This remark underscores the urgency with which the court is approaching the task of clearing its backlog. The initiative follows a period of intense activity at the Supreme Court, where several major cases previously assigned to nine-judge benches were concluded earlier this year. Among these were two landmark matters: the review of the legal definition of “industry,” which aimed to clarify ambiguities in labor and commercial regulations, and the Sabarimala reference, a contentious constitutional issue that concluded its hearings just last week.#supreme_court_india #chief_justice_surya_kant #seven_judge_benches #sabarimala_reference #constitutional_backlog
Supreme Court Commends Peaceful Voting in West Bengal Amid SIR Case Delays The Supreme Court of India addressed the Special Intensive Review (SIR) cases in West Bengal during a hearing, highlighting the slow progress of the legal process while also acknowledging the state’s peaceful voting environment. Chief Justice Surya Kant praised the high voter turnout and absence of violence during the first phase of the state assembly elections, calling it a positive sign for democratic stability. The hearing focused on the backlog of cases related to the SIR process, which was initiated to address discrepancies in the electoral rolls. According to lawyer Kalyan Banerjee, representing the Trinamool Congress, only 139 appeals out of 34 lakh cases had been resolved by April 2026, far below expectations. Justice Kant emphasized that such cases should be first addressed at the Calcutta High Court, where administrative oversight could be managed. He stated that the Supreme Court would intervene only if necessary, urging parties to seek resolution through lower judicial authorities. The court also reiterated its stance on not adjudicating individual cases directly. It clarified that general guidelines had already been issued for appeals, and each case would need to be reviewed by the appropriate tribunals or authorities. This directive aimed to prevent the Supreme Court from becoming overwhelmed with routine administrative disputes. Separately, the court addressed a petition from 65 officials who claimed their names were removed from the final voter list after the SIR process. The petitioners argued that this affected their eligibility to vote. The Supreme Court rejected their plea, directing them to first approach the High Court or relevant tribunals for resolution.#west_bengal #trinamool_congress #supreme_court_of_india #calcutta_high_court #chief_justice_surya_kant
