Major matters in the agenda of new CJI Surya Kant

Justice Surya Kant was sworn in as the 53rd Chief Justice of India on Monday (November 24). He has said reducing the pending cases as his main focus.

He said that as soon as he assumes charge, he will focus on those major cases which require a bench of 5, 7 or 9 judges.

Here is the list of major cases that are currently pending:

bench of five judges

• Kerala’s petition against setting the borrowing limit of the Center
• whatsapp privacy policy

bench of seven judges

• constitutionality of treason
• Constitutionality of UAPA
• Passing the Finance Act 2017 as a Money Bill
• Governor’s power to disqualify MLAs

bench of nine judges

• Review of women’s entry into Sabarimala

CJI Kant will also head the five-member Supreme Court Collegium. The reconstitution of the five- and three-member collegiums is a consequential development following the retirement of former CJI BR Gavai on November 23.

Apart from CJI Kant, the five-member collegium, which selects apex court judges and decides on transfers of high court judges, will now include CJI Kant and Justices Vikram Nath, BV Nagarathna, JK Maheshwari and MM Sundaresh.

The three-member collegium, which selects high court judges, will have the CJI and Justices Vikram Nath and BV Nagarathna as members.

The collegium system is a process of appointment and transfer of judges in the higher judiciary.