This year, the Supreme Court has used its suo motu powers a record 10 times to address a range of issues. The first instance was triggered by a bold judicial order from a Calcutta High Court judge, and the most recent involved the rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College & Hospital. However, many of these cases remain unresolved.
The outcome of the CJI-led bench’s review of the RG Kar hospital incident is still pending. Additionally, a case involving Chhattisgarh’s remission policy, which drew the Supreme Court’s suo motu attention six months ago, has yet to be scheduled for a hearing.
Another suo motu case involved the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s decision to terminate the services of six women judicial officers. Proceedings, which began on December 17 last year, are still ongoing under a bench led by Justice B.V. Nagarathna.
Between 1991 and 2022, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of over 50 cases. Ten of these were prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and addressed issues such as oxygen supply, patient healthcare, dignified handling of bodies, doctors’ rest, judicial functioning during the pandemic, and relief for children orphaned by the virus.
The first suo motu civil case of 2023 was registered on January 28, when the Court stayed Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay’s order requiring the SC Secretary General to send him documents presented to the CJI. Gangopadhyay has since resigned from the Calcutta High Court and been elected to the Lok Sabha on a BJP ticket.
The Supreme Court also initiated suo motu proceedings on the recruitment of persons with disabilities and visually impaired individuals in the judiciary. In April, proceedings were launched against Gautam Budh Nagar District Bar Association officials for allegedly assaulting SC Bar Association members who appeared in court despite a strike call.
In May, CJI D.Y. Chandrachud initiated suo motu proceedings to expedite the relocation of the Bombay High Court to a new building. The historic gothic-style structure, which has housed the High Court since January 1879, will be replaced by a modern building on a 30-acre plot in Bandra East.
The latest suo motu action involved the Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge Rajbir Sehrawat, who had questioned the Supreme Court’s authority. The SC responded by expunging his remarks and issuing a warning.
In 2023, the SC also took suo motu cognizance of three other matters, including the management of Sariska Tiger Reserve and a temple within it that attracts thousands of devotees. The Court formed a committee to address the conflict between environmental protection and religious practices at the site.
