After assuming office, CJI Kant introduced a new procedural norm for urgent mentions. From now on, he said, lawyers must submit written requests explaining the cause of urgency, and the registry will examine them. Oral mentions, he made clear, will be allowed only in rare situations.

“If you have any urgent mentioning, give your mentioning slip along with the cause of urgency; the registrar will examine… Unless there are extraordinary circumstances, when somebody’s liberty is involved, there is a question of death sentence, etc, then only I will list it,” he said. His remark came after a counsel sought urgent listing in a case concerning the demolition of a canteen.

On the bench, CJI Kant has repeatedly underlined the limits of free expression. He cautioned podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia for “derogatory” remarks, observing that free speech did not permit flouting societal norms.

In another hearing, a bench he led pulled up Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah for comments he made against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi during Operation Sindoor, stressing that “freedom of speech is not absolute” and that ministers must speak responsibly.