SC worried about listing of cases in High Courts

New Delhi, Jan 9: The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed worry regarding listing of cases in some High Courts, particularly, the Allahabad High Court, where it said that the process of filing and listing of cases has collapsed.

“In some of the High Courts, we don't know what will happen. Allahabad HC is one of the High Courts which really one should be worried about. Unfortunately, filing has collapsed, listing has collapsed, nobody knows which matter will be listed,” the Supreme Court remarked.

The observation fell from a Bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh as it dealt with an application filed by Abbas Ansari, son of late gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing on Abbas Ansari’s behalf, submitted that despite an apex court order for expeditious hearing, no effective hearing took place before the Allahabad High Court on his prayer for interim protection in a writ petition against an ex-parte government order declaring a piece of land an evacuee property (government property).

Sibal added that while other co-owners secured interim relief from the Allahabad HC, Abbas Ansari’s plea for interim protection was not taken up for hearing at all.

After hearing the contentions raised, the Justice-Kant led Bench ordered that the matter be listed earliest before the Allahabad High Court and in the meantime, directed parties to maintain status quo in respect of the disputed site. In an earlier round of litigation, Sibal had contended that the Uttar Pradesh authorities, after taking physical possession of Abbas Ansari’s plot, have started construction of some dwelling units at the site under the Awas Yojana.