Arguments against such concerns-

♤ According to another recent judgment also, seniority in terms of appointment has no bearing on which cases a judge should hear. To suggest that one judge is more capable of deciding particular cases or that certain categories of cases should be assigned only to the senior-most among the judges of the Supreme Court has no foundation in principle or precedent. To hold otherwise would be to cast a reflection on the competence and ability of other judges to deal with cases assigned to them by the Chief Justice.

♤ The CJI is only “the first among equals” as a judge, but is sui generis (one of his kind) in other capacities.

o Entrustment of such authority in the Chief Justice is necessary for safeguarding the

Supreme Court as an “independent safeguard for the preservation of personal liberty”.

♤ The CJI has made the roster system public and portfolios are now being published on the Supreme Court website.