“I Will Find Who Is To Blame”: CJI Surya Kant on Alleged Registry Failure in Urgent Case

In a significant development concerning the functioning of the Supreme Court Registry, the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, on Wednesday assured that responsibility would be fixed if allegations of an urgent case file being misplaced by the Registry were found to be true.

The issue came up before a Bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and V Mohana. During the hearing, an advocate informed the Court that an urgent matter filed on June 8 had still not been listed despite the passage of more than ten days. The lawyer claimed that certain papers connected with the case had allegedly been misplaced by the Registry.

Taking a serious view of the allegation, CJI Surya Kant made it clear that any lapse affecting the listing of urgent matters would not be ignored. The Chief Justice remarked that if the Registry was indeed responsible for misplacing urgent files, accountability would be determined and appropriate action would follow.

The Court immediately directed the Advocate-on-Record concerned to submit a formal complaint. CJI Surya Kant instructed that the complaint should be delivered either to his chamber or his residence on the same day so that the matter could be examined without delay.

The remarks come against the backdrop of increasing judicial concern over administrative lapses within the Supreme Court Registry. In recent months, several Benches have raised questions regarding procedural errors, listing issues and irregular handling of court records.

Earlier in May 2026, a Bench led by CJI Surya Kant criticised the Registry for failing to issue notice to the Director of the Enforcement Directorate despite a specific judicial direction. Describing the lapse as “very nasty,” the Court had ordered a fact-finding inquiry to determine how the mistake occurred.

The Supreme Court had also expressed concern in February 2026 when a petition that had already been dismissed by a three-judge Bench unexpectedly resurfaced before another Bench. The Court termed the development “shocking” and indicated that an administrative investigation would be conducted to identify those responsible.

Apart from these incidents, different Benches have previously flagged issues such as connected matters being listed before separate Benches and inconsistencies in procedural handling. The Court has repeatedly emphasised the need for efficient administration, accurate record management and greater accountability within the Registry.

The latest intervention by CJI Surya Kant signals the Court’s continuing focus on ensuring that administrative shortcomings do not interfere with the timely delivery of justice, particularly in urgent matters requiring immediate judicial attention.