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The Supreme Court will have single-judge benches for case hearings beginning May 13, the first time in its 70-year history. A notice announcing the same was posted on the apex court website on Monday.
Until now, banks in the superior court used to sit in combinations of 2 judges to hear normal cases, while banks of 3 judges hear special matters. Cases involving constitutional questions are heard by banks made up of 5 or more judges.
Under the new scheme, a single judge court will hear appeals arising from bail and early bail cases involving crimes punishable by less than 7 years in prison.
In addition, requests seeking the transfer of cases from a higher court to another or from a court of first instance in one state to a court of first instance in another state will also be heard by banks of a single judge.
The Supreme Court had amended its rules in September 2019 to allow single-judge banks to hear matters.
Prior to the amendment, Order VI, Rule 1 of the 2013 Supreme Court Rules stated that each case in the Supreme Court must be heard by banks comprising at least two judges.
To pave the way for single judge benches, a new clause was inserted in Order VI, Rule 1 of the Rules of the Supreme Court establishing an exception.
After last year’s amendment, this would be the first time the change has been implemented.
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