On 27 October 2026, the Supreme Court of India, issued a circular directing that Senior Counsel will not be permitted to make oral mentions before any Court with effect from 2 November 2026. The circular also states that young and junior counsel may instead be encouraged to make oral mentions.
A similar restriction was included in the Registry’s circular dated 29 November 2025, which also restricted Senior Counsel from making oral mentions and encouraged junior counsel to do so. That circular, effective from 1 December 2025, additionally prescribed the procedure for mentioning urgent fresh, after-notice and regular hearing matters. While the October 2026 circular focuses on the restriction and encouragement of junior counsel, the earlier circular sets out the procedural framework for requests for mentioning.
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Procedure under the 29 November 2025 circular
The 2025 circular prescribed different procedures for fresh matters, after-notice matters and regular hearing matters. The directions took effect from 1 December 2025.
1. Fresh matters
Automatic listing: The circular stated that matters covered by the Court’s companion circular on automatic listing would not be permitted to be mentioned merely to seek listing.
The companion circular provided for automatic listing within the next two working days, after verification and removal of defects, for fresh urgent matters involving regular bail, anticipatory bail, cancellation of bail, death penalty, habeas corpus, eviction or dispossession, demolition and other matters seeking urgent interim relief.
Urgent interim relief and early listing: Where an urgent interim order was sought and listing before the scheduled date was requested, mentioning would be permitted only after the case had been registered and verified and all defects had been cured. The Mentioning Proforma and a letter of urgency had to be submitted to the Mentioning Officer by 3 PM on the preceding working day, Monday to Friday, or by 11:30 AM on Saturday.
Exceptionally urgent matters: For matters involving anticipatory bail, death penalty, habeas corpus, eviction or dispossession, or demolition that could not await the scheduled listing, the Mentioning Proforma and letter of urgency had to be submitted before 10:30 AM. The letter had to explain why the matter could not await its scheduled date. The Mentioning Officer would place the documents before the Registrar (Judicial Listing) to seek orders of the Chief Justice of India.
2. After-notice matters
For after-notice matters, the Mentioning Proforma and letter of urgency had to be submitted to the Mentioning Officer by 3 PM on the day preceding mentioning.
The Mentioning Officer would check the status of the matters and prepare lists for the Registrar (Judicial Listing), who would seek instructions from the Chief Justice of India. Depending on the directions, the matters would either be listed or included in the Mentioning List before the respective Courts on the next sitting day.
The circular further prohibited mentioning cases that did not appear in the Mentioning Lists published on the preceding day.
3. Regular hearing matters
The circular prohibited mentioning regular cases merely for listing before the Courts. However, an application seeking urgent relief or early hearing could be submitted for mentioning.
In such cases, the Mentioning Proforma and letter of urgency had to be submitted to the Mentioning Officer by 3 PM on the preceding day. After verification and satisfaction of the Mentioning Officer, the list would be placed before the Registrar (Judicial Listing) to seek instructions from the Chief Justice of India.
Also Read: Supreme Court: Circular on Cause List Order and Oral Argument Timeline | SCC Times
The October 2026 circular does not set out a new category-wise procedure or revise these timelines. Its stated direction concerns the restriction on Senior Counsel making oral mentions and the encouragement of young and junior counsel, effective from 2 November 2026.
