Supreme Court mandates strict timelines for oral arguments, issues Circular

To facilitate speedy and proper administration of justice, Supreme Court issues Circular mandating arguing Counsels to submit ‘timelines’ for making oral arguments in post-notice and regular hearing matters, atleast a day prior to commencement of hearing of the case; Further, Arguing Counsels through AoR to file brief written submissions not exceeding 5 pages, atleast 3 days prior to date of hearing.

 

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

F. No. 29/Judl./2025

Date: 29.12.2025

 

C I R C U L A R

 

In order to facilitate effective Court Management and equitable distribution of Court working hours and to ensure speedy and proper administration of justice, as directed by Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India and all the Hon’ble Judges, there shall be a Standard Operating Procedure for adhering to timelines for submission of oral arguments in all cases, with immediate effect:

 

(1) Senior Advocates, Arguing counsel and/or Advocate-on-record, shall submit the timelines for making oral arguments in all post-notice and Regular Hearing matters, at least a day prior to the commencement of the hearing of the case.

 

The same shall be submitted to the Hon’ble Court through the online portal for submitting Appearance Slips already provided to the Advocate-on record.

 

(2) Arguing counsel and/or Senior Advocates, through their Advocate-onrecord or Nodal Counsel/s nominated by Hon’ble Court, if any, shall file a brief Note / written submission not exceeding five (5) pages, after serving its copy on the other side, at least three (3) days prior to the date of  hearing, in order to ensure compliance of such time lime; and,

 

(3) All counsel shall strictly adhere to the timelines fixed and conclude their oral arguments.

 

sd/-                                        sd/-                                         sd/-                                       sd/-

(Anupam Patra)                 Rajesh Sharma)                (Dr. Ajit Atri)                      (Pavanesh D)
OSD/Registrar (Tech)       OSD/Registrar (JA-II)       OSD/Registrar (JA-I)           Registrar (JL)