The court’s concern also extends to laws ousting the jurisdiction of high courts by the establishment of various tribunals. However, what has led to judicial lamentation in recent times is the question whether too much of the Supreme Court’s valuable time is consumed by mundane cases involving nothing more than the rights and interests of rival parties. Such provisions result in the Supreme Court being the first appellate court. Part of the blame has to be borne by the judges of the Supreme Court themselves. The verdict reversing the Delhi High Court decriminalising homosexuality and the judgment upholding criminal defamation are two examples.

Source: The Hindu August 11, 2016 22:07 UTC