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
