– Akhilesh Tripathi
Lucknow: The Supreme Court has sharply criticised the dysfunctional case listing system in the Allahabad High Court, describing it as completely collapsed. The remarks came during a hearing on January 9, concerning a land-related case involving Abbas Ansari, son of former politician and alleged mafia don Mukhtar Ansari.
Abbas Ansari’s bungalow was demolished by Uttar Pradesh government, which claims the disputed land as government property. The government intends to build housing for the poor on the land. This matter is currently pending in Allahabad High Court, but persistent listing issues have delayed its hearing.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed the High Court to address the case, but procedural hurdles have prevented progress. Without being formally listed, cases cannot proceed to hearings. Consequently, while the government rapidly advances its construction plans, the delays in the case’s hearing risk rendering the matter moot. Once construction begins, Abbas Ansari could lose any potential claim to the land.
Frustrated by the delay, Abbas Ansari approached the Supreme Court again. A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh heard the matter.
During the hearing, Justice Surya Kant remarked: “The system for listing cases in high courts, particularly the Allahabad High Court, has collapsed. We are reluctant to comment further, but there are courts where it is unclear if and when hearings will occur. The Allahabad High Court is a matter of genuine concern.”
He further added: “The filing and listing systems are completely broken. No one knows when a case will be scheduled. I recently had detailed discussions with judges and registrars about this issue. The Supreme Court has repeatedly flagged the prolonged pendency of criminal appeals in the Allahabad High Court.”
Representing Abbas Ansari, senior advocate Kapil Sibal echoed these concerns, stating: “Despite Supreme Court orders, the High Court has not conducted a hearing on the matter. The case has been listed multiple times, yet no interim order has been granted. Meanwhile, the government continues its actions, making the hearing increasingly redundant.”
The issue of delays due to listing problems is not unique to this case. A similar situation occurred with the Noori Jama Masjid case in Fatehpur district. The High Court scheduled hearings for December 6 and later December 13, but neither took place. Meanwhile, on December 10, the district administration demolished a significant portion of the mosque, citing its illegality. The case remains unresolved.
The Supreme Court’s repeated interventions highlight the urgency of reforming the listing system in the Allahabad High Court. Without addressing these procedural inefficiencies, justice is delayed and, in some cases, entirely denied.
