The Supreme Court on Friday said the time has come to take the initiative to fix time limits for hearing cases as "very limited time" is available and arguments are being sought by lawyers in the same case.
The Supreme Court said that when Justice MN Venkatachaliah was the Chief Justice of India (in 1993-1994), it was suggested that there would be a time frame for hearing of matters.
A bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and CT Ravikumar on Friday said, "We need to now think about it. Seriously think about it. That thinking has been going on since long but we have not implemented it. Mr Singhvi (senior advocate AM Singhvi) may recall that during Chief Justice Venkatachaliah, it was suggested that we will have time frame for hearing."
"Please take initiative. This is time, high time now," the bench said to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was appearing for the Centre, adding, "There is very limited time space available and many counsels want to argue the same point in one matter. This is what is happening. That is the experience now."
Also read: SSP Kapurthala facilitates Brave girl for nabbing mobile snatchers
Mr Mehta said, "Your lordships can take initiative. We can only support". Mehta requested the bench whether the matter could be taken up for hearing on November 29 as he would have to attend the Constitution Day celebrations being organized by the Supreme Court Bar Association during the day and there was little in the matter. It may take a long time.
The bench posted the Centre's plea challenging the October 29 order of the High Court for hearing on November 29. On November 15, the Center had told the apex court that the high court had passed a disturbing order setting aside the order of the main bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).