V. Vasanthakumar v. H.C. Bhatia and Ors.
Background
This is a referral order, not a final judgment. A writ petition raised the question whether the Supreme Court's heavy caseload and concerns about access to justice justify creating regional Courts of Appeal or a National Court of Appeal, and splitting the Supreme Court into constitutional and appellate wings.
Decision Breakdown
This is a referral order, not a final judgment. After considering earlier Law Commission reports and the arguments of senior counsel, the three-judge Bench framed eleven questions on the issue. It referred them to a Constitution Bench for an authoritative ruling and directed the Registry to place the matter before the Chief Justice to constitute an appropriate Bench.
Lesson Learnt
There is no final ruling yet on whether India needs regional Courts of Appeal to reduce the Supreme Court's backlog. The order only frames the questions for a larger Bench to decide.