The Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, on Wednesday, said the Supreme Court will have specialised benches from next week for hearing criminal appeals, direct indirect tax, land acquisition matters and motor accident claim cases.

CJI Chandrachud announced this when an advocate mentioned his matter relating to land acquisition for an urgent hearing. The CJI, who was sharing the bench with Justices Hima Kohli and J B Pardiwala, informed about the constitution of special benches at the outset of the proceedings in court number one when lawyers were queuing up for mentioning cases for urgent listing.

 “Don’t worry. We are going to have four specialised benches from next week...for criminal appeals, land acquisition matters, motor accident claims tribunal cases and on direct and indirect tax,” Justice Chandrachud told a lawyer, who wanted his matter listed quickly.

While the names of other judges who will head these benches are yet to be known, justice Chandrachud said that justice Surya Kant is likely to lead the bench on land acquisition matters.

Last week the CJI bench also apprised about a full court meeting decision that each Bench of the top court will take up 10 transfer petitions and 10 bail matters every day to dispose of all such matters before the winter vacation.

“This is a very salutary and laudable initiative by the honourable CJI. The felicitous step will go a long way in the dispensation of speedier and prompt justice to the litigants as all these cases deserve expedited hearing and disposal. The Supreme Court could also consider including service matters involving transfer and reversion, dismissal and removal, in this list,” said advocate Abhishek Gupta.

Image source: ANI