CJI Gavai Empowers Junior Lawyers with New Court Mention Rules

New Delhi, Aug 6 (PTI) - In a significant move, Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai has announced that starting August 11, senior advocates will no longer be permitted to mention cases for urgent listing and hearings in his court, thereby providing opportunities for junior lawyers to do so. This change aims to foster experience and growth for the younger legal fraternity.

CJI Gavai, who assumed office on May 14, reinstated the practice of oral mentions for urgent case listings, reversing the methodology introduced by his predecessor, Justice Sanjiv Khanna. Under Justice Khanna, the approach required lawyers to either email or submit written letters for such requests, rather than making oral submissions.

“There is a great demand that no matters should be mentioned by senior counsel(s),” remarked CJI Gavai. He instructed the court staff to issue a formal notice to this effect, clarifying that from the forthcoming Monday, designated senior lawyers would not be allowed to mention cases.

CJI Gavai emphasized, “Let juniors get an opportunity to do it.”

During the session, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, present to mention a case, expressed no objections to the new rule, provided it is uniformly applied to all senior lawyers. CJI Gavai responded, asserting the practice will at least be followed in his court, although it is up to other Supreme Court justices to decide for their respective benches.

Typically, lawyers present their cases before the CJI-led bench at the start of proceedings to secure out-of-turn listings and hearings citing urgency.