Supreme Court Overhauls Case Categorization System to Enhance Judicial Efficiency

The Supreme Court of India has implemented a comprehensive reform of its case categorization system, effective April 21, 2025, the first major update since 1997.

The number of sub-categories has been reduced from 307 to 189, organized under 48 main subject categories. This restructuring addresses issues like overlapping classifications and outdated categories, ensuring inclusion of contemporary laws such as the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), Information Technology laws, Goods and Services Tax (GST), and the Companies Act, 2013

A key innovation is the “marker” system in criminal cases, which combines 11 main sub-categories with 13 markers to provide enhanced clarity. The reform also promotes AI integration and better resource allocation.