Context: Criticism on Supreme Court about delay in hearing of crucial cases due to its inefficient administrative functioning. 

Allegations on Supreme Court

• Critical cases like those concerning personal liberty, law and order and Democratic functioning, are posted after long intervals 
• The Government is being granted a luxury of time to respond. 
• Example: Kashmir notification (Article 370), Citizenship Amendment Act, Electoral bonds

Impact of Judicial inaction on significant cases

• Fait accompli can be created due to lack of judicial action in such cases where immediacy is pre-eminent.
• Adds fuel to perception that judicial inaction is due to executive influence
• Erodes public trust on apex court
• Increases backlogs in Judiciary

What are the possible reasons causing this situation?

• CJI has been given the onerous dual charge of heading both the administrative and judicial functions of the court.
• Increasing number of cases has made handling both these tasks difficult
• Some of the administrative functions carried out by CJI includes:
  • All service-related matters of the SC’s 2,500 employees
  • Issue office orders to streamline the registry 
  • Supervise measures for security and infrastructure
  • Chair committees
  • Interview candidates for the various courts, etc
• Inadequate capabilities & training of Junior officers under CJI who handle these tasks

Possible Solution – CEO

• A chief executive officer – an independent professional who is equipped with the day-to-day management of the Court and is not beholden to the judges in any way
• CEO will be charged with the entire mission of running the Court, so that the judges can concentrate on adjudication of cases
• It will reduce the burden on CJI which will lead to faster resolution of cases.

Challenges ahead

• CEO needs to be given adequate operational autonomy to ensure efficiency in management of Court’s administrative functioning
• He/she should be answerable to a committee of the Court, comprising judges and bar representatives

Conclusion

Resolution of significant cases in a time-bound manner is crucial for robust functioning of Democracy