CJI Proposes Central Filter for Govt Appeals to Cut Pendency
Chief Justice of India Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai has suggested setting up a central agency to review and filter government appeals before they are filed in courts. He made this call to reduce the mounting backlog of cases.
Context and Concerns
Delivering his speech at the 10th All-India Conference of the Central Administrative Tribunal in 2025, CJI Gavai noted that the central government is among the largest litigants before the Supreme Court and high courts. He observed that many government appeals could be avoided if a screening mechanism decides whether a case truly merits being appealed.
Expected Benefits
The Chief Justice said a filtering agency would “greatly reduce” pendency in courts by preventing the filing of frivolous or unnecessary appeals. This, in turn, could lead to faster justice and less burden on the courts.
Implementation Possibilities
No formal decision has been made yet on the structure or mandate of such an agency. Key questions include: what criteria will be used to filter cases, which body will perform this function, and what checks will exist to ensure transparency and fairness.
