The Supreme Court has published a new roster of work which will be effective from July 3. The allocation of cases will be allocated to fifteen different benches as per this subject-wise roster.
The first bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud covers the maximum subject of cases, ranging from indirect taxes, service matters, criminal appeals, election petitions, company law, habeas corpus matters and arbitration. The matters relating to appointment of constitutional authorities and judicial officers, armed forces, admissions to educational institutions are also before the CJI’s bench. Apart from these, PILs, Letter Petitions and social justice matters are also before CJI’s bench.
In addition to the first bench, the second and third benches, led by Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sanjiv Khanna respectively, can also hear letter petitions and PILs which are assigned to them by the CJI.
The subject wise roster system was introduced by former CJI Dipak Misra in February 2018, in the backdrop of ‘master of roster’ controversy which erupted after the press conference by four senior judges, who alleged that the CJI was selectively assigning cases to benches of preferences, ignoring seniority of judges.
Some highlights of the new roster.
Arbitration matters – CJI, Justice SK Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, S Ravindra Bhat, Abhay S Oka
Criminal matters.  – CJI, Justices SK Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, Surya Kant, Aniruddha Bose, AS Bopanna, Krishna Murari, S Ravindra Bhat, Hrishikesh Roy, AS Oka and Vikram Nath.
Indirect Tax matters – CJI, Justices Krishna Murari, S Ravindra Bhat, AS Oka and BV Nagarthna
Direct Tax matters. – Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Krishna Murari, S Ravindra Bhat, AS Oka, BV Nagarathna
Service matters – CJI, Justices SK Kaul, BR Gavai, Surya Kant, Aniruddha Bose, AS Bopanna, Hrishikesh Roy, AS Oka, Vikram Nath, JK Maheshwari and Hima Kohli
Consumer Protection mattes – Justices BR Gavai, Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, JK Maheshwari, Hima Kohli and BV Nagarathna
Ordinary Civil matters      – Justices SK Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, Surya Kant, Aniruddha Bose, AS Bopanna, Krishna Murari, Hrishikesh Roy, AS Oka, Vikram Nath, JK Maheshwari and BV Nagarathna
