Rajasthan HC constitutes 25 benches as all 39 judges shift to Jaipur for three-day conference
Jaipur, July 31
In a rare administrative arrangement, all 39 judges of the Rajasthan High Court from both the Principal Seat at Jodhpur and the Jaipur Bench will hear cases from Jaipur on Friday.
For the day's proceedings, the High Court has constituted four larger benches, six division benches, and fifteen single benches. Cases pertaining to the Jodhpur Principal Seat will be heard through video conferencing (VC).
The special arrangement has been made as all judges will remain in Jaipur for the next three days to participate in an international conference on peace, mediation, and the rule of law, commencing on Friday evening. Hosted by the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority, the conference will bring together several luminaries including judges, senior advocates, mediators, scholars, and policymakers from Commonwealth countries.
Under the roster, one larger bench, three division benches, and four single benches will hear matters relating to the Jodhpur Principal Seat through video conferencing.
For cases filed before the Jaipur Bench, three larger benches, three division benches, and eleven single benches have been constituted. The arrangement is expected to ensure that judicial work continues uninterrupted despite all judges being stationed in Jaipur.
The larger benches are scheduled to hear several significant legal issues, including whether cases involving senior citizens, women, children, and persons with disabilities should be accorded priority in hearing, petitions pending since 1989, filed by Acharya Dharmendra and others, concerning the installation of a statue of Manu within the Jaipur Bench premises of the Rajasthan High Court, legal issues relating to the eligibility of convicts serving sentences in cases under the POCSO Act and for the rape of minors for transfer to open prisons.
Several of these matters involve substantial questions of law, and the decisions of the larger benches are expected to provide authoritative interpretations that may guide the adjudication of similar cases in the future.
The special sitting assumes significance from both judicial and administrative perspectives, as it enables the High Court to continue regular proceedings while all judges attend the three-day international conference in Jaipur.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is a great example of administrative efficiency. The conference on peace, mediation, and rule of law is important, but so is ensuring that pending cases don't get delayed. Hopefully, the video conferencing works smoothly and sets a precedent for future hybrid hearings.
Interesting that they're discussing whether cases of senior citizens, women, children, and disabled should get priority. That's long overdue in our courts. The Manu statue case from 1989 also needs resolution - 35 years is way too long for any matter to remain pending.
As someone who has worked with legal systems globally, this kind of administrative innovation is commendable. The use of video conferencing to keep the Jodhpur bench operational while all judges are in Jaipur is a pragmatic solution. India continues to modernize its judicial processes.
I appreciate the effort, but this also highlights the chronic issue of judge shortage in India. If all 39 judges need to be in one place for a conference, the court has to scramble to maintain operations. We need more judges to handle the pendency crisis properly.
The POCSO and open prison cases being heard by larger benches is crucial. These are sensitive matters that require careful judicial interpretation. Good to see the court prioritizing these alongside the logistical arrangements for the conference.
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