In a recent development, the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association has reached out to Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, with a proposal to amend the existing protocol for the announcement of the hearing sequence in the Supreme Court. The association has requested that the supplementary cause list, which details the hearing order, be made available a day in advance rather than the current practice of releasing it on the morning of the hearings.
Advocate Nikhil Jain, the honorary secretary of the association, highlighted in the letter that the current procedure of issuing the sequence order after 10:30 AM is causing significant disruptions. This practice is particularly challenging for elderly members and those less proficient with technology, who struggle to manage their schedules and often miss their hearings.
The letter stresses the need for better planning and preparation for the lawyers, stating, “On behalf of the entire association, I respectfully request that the supplementary cause list should include the hearing sequence for all the courtrooms for the next day.” This change would enable advocates to plan their day more effectively and manage their time to attend all relevant hearings.
Furthermore, the association expressed concern over some courts’ refusal to grant ‘pass overs’—requests to delay hearings to later in the session—which adds to the difficulties faced by lawyers. They have requested that each court allow at least one pass over and consider such requests sympathetically.
