Supreme Court to prioritise cases of senior citizens aged above 80 years and vulnerable groups: Report

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court will be majorly overhauling its case management system, while introducing measures to expedite hearings for senior citizens and vulnerable populations, a CNN-News18 report said.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant shared the procedural changes during a conversation with CNN-News18 on Tuesday, marking what officials describe as a substantial shift in how the Supreme Court of India manages its case docket.

The reforms focus on providing faster and more efficient access to justice for society's most vulnerable members, according to CJI Surya Kant.

An official order seen by CNN-News18 reveals that the creation of four new categories in the court's cause list. These categories include cases relating to specially-abled persons and acid attack victims, cases relating to senior citizens aged above 80 years, cases involving persons below the poverty line, and legal aid matters.

Under the new directive, members of the Bar, parties-in-person, and all stakeholders must indicate the applicable category when filing fresh petitions with the Registry. Petitioners must also submit an application or letter accompanied by documentary proof issued by an appropriate government authority.

The order further requests parties to provide these details for pending cases, enabling the Registry to update matters under the respective heads. This aims to help the court prioritise the listing of cases concerning the most vulnerable categories.

The procedural transformation represents the court's effort to address delays that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations who may have limited resources or time to pursue lengthy legal battles.

According to an official order obtained by CNN-News18, the following four categories have been newly introduced in the cause list:

1. Cases relating to specially-abled persons and acid attack victims

2. Cases relating to senior citizens aged above 80 years

3. Cases involving persons below the poverty line

4. Legal aid matters