In a significant move towards judicial efficiency, the Supreme Court of India has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) mandating counsel to adhere to strict timelines for oral arguments. The circular, issued on December 29, 2025, aims to streamline court management and ensure the “equitable distribution of Court working hours.”
The directive, issued under the instructions of the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India and all Hon’ble Judges, comes into effect immediately and applies to all post-notice and Regular Hearing matters.
Purpose
The circular (F. No. 29/Judl./2025) states that the SOP has been formulated to “facilitate effective Court Management” and to ensure the “speedy and proper administration of justice.” By requiring counsel to provide time estimates in advance, the Court seeks to better manage its daily cause list and reduce the backlog of cases awaiting final disposal.
The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
The circular outlines three primary requirements for Senior Advocates, arguing counsel, and Advocates-on-Record (AOR):
- Submission of Timelines: Counsel are now required to submit their estimated timelines for making oral arguments at least one day prior to the commencement of the hearing. This applies to all post-notice and Regular Hearing matters.
- Submission Method: The estimates must be submitted through the existing online portal used for submitting “Appearance Slips.”
- Written Submissions: To ensure compliance with the estimated timelines, the Court has restricted the length of written notes. Arguing counsel or Senior Advocates must file a “brief Note / written submission not exceeding five (5) pages.”
- Deadline: These submissions must be filed at least three (3) days prior to the date of hearing.
- Condition: A copy of the submission must be served on the opposing side before filing.
- Strict Adherence: The circular emphasizes that “All counsel shall strictly adhere to the timelines fixed and conclude their oral arguments.”
The directive has been signed by the OSD/Registrars representing various wings of the Supreme Court registry, including Technical, Judicial Administration (JA-I & JA-II), and Judicial (JL). The immediate implementation of this SOP signifies the Apex Court’s commitment to transforming the culture of lengthy oral arguments and moving toward a more structured hearing process.
