The chief justice of India (CJI) S H Kapadia has called for fast-track trials of corruption cases, in a new initiative to streamline the conduct of the business at courts in India.

In a letter to the chief justices of all the high courts, he has asked to put such cases up for priority hearing. According to a note released by the supreme court secretary general, A S Cheema , the CJI, in his letter, has directed that cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988,  be taken up for priority hearing both at the high courts and district courts. He has also directed the SC registry to undertake similar exercise to expedite pending cases. He has issued directions that such cases be processed without delay and listed ‘high on board’ before the court for them to be heard immediately.

In respect of the PILs, he had issued guidelines in October, according to which, every PIL would go through his scrutiny for the substantial water it held before being listed before any bench. "Huge cost will be imposed for filing frivolous PILs," justice Kapadia had said on the first day of his office as CJI earlier this year while hearing a PIL.