The bench said that as a "repository of constitutional trust, the Chief Justice is an institution in himself".
Asserting the superior authority of the Chief Justice of India, the Supreme Court on Wednesday held that the CJI is an "institution in himself" and occupies a "unique position" having the "exclusive prerogative" to allocate cases and set up benches.
Rejecting a plea for guidelines on the setting up of benches and allocation of work to judges, the bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra also said there cannot be a "presumption of mistrust" against the CJI.
The verdict assumes signficance as it comes against the backdrop of an unprecedented press conference on January 12 by the four senior most judges of the apex court where they targeted Justice Misra over what they called improper allocation of cases.
Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph had said the Chief Justice was "the master of the roster" but is "only the first amongst the equals -- nothing more or nothing less."
Significantly, senior advocate and former law minister Shanti Bhushan has also recently filed a PIL seeking clarification on the administrative authority of the CJI as the 'master of roster' and laying down of principles in preparing the roster for allocation of cases to different benches.
"In his capacity as a judge, the CJI is primus inter pares: the first among equals. In the discharge of his other functions, the Chief Justice of India occupies a position which is sui generis (unique)...Article 146 reaffirms the position of the Chief Justice of India as the head of the institution.
"From an institutional perspective the Chief Justice is placed at the helm of the Supreme Court. In the allocation of cases and the constitution of benches, the Chief Justice has an exclusive prerogative," the bench that also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said.
Dismissing a PIL filed by Uttar Pradesh-based lawyer Ashok Pande seeking evolution of a "set procedure" to constitute benches and allot cases to different benches, the bench said that as a "repository of constitutional trust, the Chief Justice is an institution in himself".
"The authority which is conferred upon the CJI, it must be remembered, is vested in a high constitutional functionary. The authority is entrusted to the Chief Justice because such an entrustment of functions is necessary for the efficient transaction of the administrative and judicial work of the Court.
"The ultimate purpose behind the entrustment of authority to the Chief Justice is to ensure that the Supreme Court is able to fulfil and discharge the constitutional obligations which govern and provide the rationale for its existence," it said.
The entrustment of functions to the CJI as the head of the institution, is with the purpose of securing the position of the Supreme Court as an independent safeguard for the preservation of personal liberty, it said, adding "there cannot be a presumption of mistrust. The oath of office demands nothing less."
Justice Chandrachud, writing the judgement for the bench, referred to the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 and said they were notified with the approval of the President.
"Rule 1 indicates that it is the Chief Justice who is to nominate the Judges who would constitute a Bench to hear a cause, appeal or matter. Where a reference has been made to a larger Bench, the Bench making the reference is required to refer the matter to the Chief Justice who will constitute a Bench," the judgement said.
The bench also referred to a recent five-judge bench verdict that had set aside an order passed by a bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar ordering setting up of a larger bench, comprising five senior most judges, to hear a PIL of NGO Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms relating to alleged medical admisson scam.
It was held that once the Chief Justice is stated to be the Master of the Roster, he alone had the prerogative to constitute benches and neither a two-Judge, nor a three-Judge bench can allocate the matter to themselves or direct the constitution of a bench.
Referring to the binding order of the larger bench, the court, in its 16-page judgement, said the relief sought was "manifestly misconceived".
"It is a well settled principle that no mandamus can issue to direct a body or authority which is vested with a rule making power to make rules or to make them in a particular manner. The Supreme Court has been authorised under Article 145 to frame rules of procedure...," it said, adding that such authority lies "exclusively in the domain" of the CJI.
