The Supreme Court of India is considering a standard operating procedure (SOP) to hear urgent matters involving life and liberty after regular court hours. The proposal is aimed at ensuring that time-sensitive applications are processed quickly and taken up outside normal schedules when immediate judicial attention is needed.
The proposal matters because urgent protection of liberty is a core constitutional concern under Article 21. A court process that can respond after hours can reduce delay in matters where waiting until the next working day may defeat the purpose of relief.
Background and earlier position
What changed now
The Supreme Court of India is now considering a formal SOP instead of relying only on ad hoc handling of urgent requests. The proposed change is a clearer process for identifying, processing, and hearing matters that affect life and liberty.
Why it matters for UPSC
Related current affairs
- Five crore Indians wait when the courts take a break
- Why was Acting CJ of Rajasthan HC not shifted, judge asks CJI
- SC asks Centre to consider plea for reduction in NEET-SS cut-off
- CJI-led Bench lauds scrapped MGNREGA as a ‘good scheme’
- High Court Bench for Ladakh approved
- Opinion-style/Report excerpt: 'Inside the Supreme Court' about elephant routes (captioned image and brief context)