In a significant shift in court procedures, the Supreme Court has officially banned the oral mentioning of cases for urgent hearings. The announcement was made by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday, November 12,2024. 

Under this new rule, advocates will no longer be allowed to verbally request urgent hearings in the courtroom. Instead, all requests for urgent hearings must be made through written submissions or emails, with clear explanations of the reasons for urgency. This change aims to streamline the process and ensure that all requests are properly documented.

CJI Sanjiv Khanna made it clear, stating, "No written or oral mentionings anymore. Only in email or written slip. Just state the reasons for urgency." The move comes as part of efforts to maintain a more organized and transparent approach to handling urgent cases.

In the past, under former CJI DY Chandrachud's leadership, advocates were allowed to verbally mention urgent cases. This practice was commonly used for time-sensitive matters, such as those involving demolitions or imminent arrests, where quick court intervention was necessary. The new rule, however, represents a major departure from that tradition, focusing on written documentation for greater accountability and clarity in urgent matters.

Source: Media Reports