Regional Benches of the Supreme Court: A Constitutional Mandate Overdue?

By Legal Desk | April 3, 2026
As the Supreme Court of India grapples with a record-breaking backlog of over 83,000 cases, the debate over establishing regional benches has once again taken center stage. While legal experts call it a "Constitutional Necessity," institutional hesitation continues to delay this major judicial reform.

The Power Under Article 130
The Constitution of India, under Article 130, clearly states that the Supreme Court shall sit in Delhi or in "such other place or places" as the Chief Justice of India (CJI) may appoint, with the approval of the President. Despite this enabling provision, the apex court has remained exclusively centralized in the national capital for over seven decades.

Why Regional Benches?
Proponents of decentralization—suggesting benches in Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata—highlight three critical arguments:

1. Geographical Accessibility: For a litigant from South or North-East India, traveling to Delhi is a massive financial and logistical burden. Statistics suggest that the Supreme Court is currently "geographically biased" toward those living closer to the capital.
2. The "Rich Man’s Court" Critique: High travel costs, Delhi-based legal fees, and accommodation often make the highest court inaccessible to the common man, effectively creating a "wealth barrier" to justice.
3. Structural Efficiency: Experts suggest a split model—a Constitution Bench in Delhi to handle core legal interpretations, and Appellate (Cassation) Benches in regions to deal with routine civil and criminal appeals.

The Resistance: Institutional Anxiety
The primary reason for the delay is what experts call "Institutional Anxiety." The judiciary has historically feared that:

• Dilution of Authority: Splitting the court might weaken the unitary character and the "majesty" of the Supreme Court as a singular national pillar.
• Conflicting Opinions: There is a concern that different regional benches might give different interpretations of the same law, leading to legal confusion.

Recommendations and the Road Ahead
The Law Commission of India (229th Report) and various Parliamentary Standing Committees have repeatedly recommended regional benches to bring "Justice to the Doorstep." While the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) remains divided on the issue, the pressure to reform the "Delhi-centric" model is mounting due to the sheer volume of pending cases.

As the "Access to Justice" gap widens, the establishment of regional benches remains the most significant unfinished business of the Indian judicial system.

Discription: Decentralizing the Apex Court: The demand for regional benches of the Supreme Court in Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata is gaining momentum as pendency crosses 83,000 cases. Although Article 130 of the Constitution allows the CJI to appoint sittings outside Delhi, institutional concerns over "diluting judicial authority" have stalled the move for decades. Proponents argue that a centralized court creates a "geographical and financial barrier" for distant litigants. Recent reports from the Law Commission suggest a structural split: a Constitution Bench in Delhi for major legal questions and Regional Appellate Benches for routine cases. This reform is seen as a vital step toward fulfilling the constitutional promise of accessible justice for all citizens.