The Allahabad High Court has introduced a sudden overhaul to its case listing system. The new format, effective from March 3, will organize all cases in a single serial order throughout the day. Previously, cases were listed in different categories with serial numbers ranging from 1 to 2999 for fresh cases, 3000 to 7999 for unlisted cases, and from 8000 onwards for miscellaneous applications.
This segmentation allowed lawyers present in courts or corridors to easily identify the nature of proceedings in each courtroom by the serial number. However, the revised system will now require advocates to memorize the complete list to understand ongoing cases, a task that many find daunting.
Advocate Mahesh Sharma expressed concerns about the new system, stating that keeping track of the full docket will be a significant challenge. Ashutosh Tripathi, former Joint Secretary of the High Court Bar Association, criticized the lack of prior notice regarding the change. He mentioned that this abrupt modification is currently causing difficulties for lawyers, who will need time to adapt to and understand the new system. Tripathi has called on the President/General Secretary of the Bar Association to address this issue urgently.
