The Supreme Court on Monday said that it is planning to put to an end the practice of allowing litigants to make submissions in sealed covers. .The remark was made by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud in the case relating to payment of arrears under the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme.The Attorney General for India R Venkataramani, appearing for the Ministry of Defence, handed over a sealed cover to the Court on Monday regarding the government's roadmap on payment of arrears.But the bench also comprising Justices PS Narasimha and JB PArdiwala directed the AG to share the same with opposite party."Please share the sealed cover with opposite side or take him to the chamber. We want to put an end to the sealed cover business being followed by Supreme Court since High Courts also follow it," the CJI remarked," the CJI remarked.He said that he is personally averse to sealed covers and High Courts are also allowing the same since the top court is doing it."I am personally averse to sealed covers. There has to be transparency in court....If we follow sealed covers, then High Courts follow it and there needs to be an end to it," the CJI stated.Specifically with regard to the present case, the CJI said that there is nothing secretive about the case since it is about implementing the earlier orders of the Court."This is about implementing the orders . What can be the secrecy here. You must give a copy to the other side. Sealed covers are completely against settled judicial principles," he made it clear.The AG insisted but the CJI refused to budge."Sorry sorry we will not take this sealed cover. Please take it back or read it," the CJI said.The AG then proceeded to read out the contents of the report..The issues stems from the March 2022 judgment in which the top court had upheld the OROP scheme introduced by the Central government through its notification of November 7, 2015.The Court in that judgment had, however, said that a refixation exercise must be conducted by the government for a period of 5 years with regard to pension payable to Army personnel as stated in the OROP policy in accordance with the November 7, 2015 notification.It had then said that the arrears should be paid within 3 months.Subsequently, the same was extended by another 3 months in September 2022 and in January 2023, the Court granted another extension and directed that the payment be made by March 15.However, the Centre then issued a communication that the payment will be made quarterly in four installments.The affected personnel then moved the top court demanding how the government could unilaterally alter the deadline set by the apex court..Story to be updated.
The Supreme Court on Monday said that it is planning to put to an end the practice of allowing litigants to make submissions in sealed covers. .The remark was made by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud in the case relating to payment of arrears under the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme.The Attorney General for India R Venkataramani, appearing for the Ministry of Defence, handed over a sealed cover to the Court on Monday regarding the government's roadmap on payment of arrears.But the bench also comprising Justices PS Narasimha and JB PArdiwala directed the AG to share the same with opposite party."Please share the sealed cover with opposite side or take him to the chamber. We want to put an end to the sealed cover business being followed by Supreme Court since High Courts also follow it," the CJI remarked," the CJI remarked.He said that he is personally averse to sealed covers and High Courts are also allowing the same since the top court is doing it."I am personally averse to sealed covers. There has to be transparency in court....If we follow sealed covers, then High Courts follow it and there needs to be an end to it," the CJI stated.Specifically with regard to the present case, the CJI said that there is nothing secretive about the case since it is about implementing the earlier orders of the Court."This is about implementing the orders . What can be the secrecy here. You must give a copy to the other side. Sealed covers are completely against settled judicial principles," he made it clear.The AG insisted but the CJI refused to budge."Sorry sorry we will not take this sealed cover. Please take it back or read it," the CJI said.The AG then proceeded to read out the contents of the report..The issues stems from the March 2022 judgment in which the top court had upheld the OROP scheme introduced by the Central government through its notification of November 7, 2015.The Court in that judgment had, however, said that a refixation exercise must be conducted by the government for a period of 5 years with regard to pension payable to Army personnel as stated in the OROP policy in accordance with the November 7, 2015 notification.It had then said that the arrears should be paid within 3 months.Subsequently, the same was extended by another 3 months in September 2022 and in January 2023, the Court granted another extension and directed that the payment be made by March 15.However, the Centre then issued a communication that the payment will be made quarterly in four installments.The affected personnel then moved the top court demanding how the government could unilaterally alter the deadline set by the apex court..Story to be updated.
