As known, after winter vacation, the bench hearing our cases was changed and hence the cases are to be allotted to the bench afresh. Being the part-heard cases, it would be appropriate if the cases are allotted to the special bench consisting of the same judges viz. Hon'ble Justice Maheshwari and Hon'ble Justice Bishnoi.
In such matters directions are issued by the Master of Roaster i.e. the Hon'ble CJI. Federation of Retd LIC Class 1 Officers Associations and AIRIEF decided to make a mention for listing of our cases. Accordingly, the mention was made on 10/2/2026, when Hon'ble Justice Maheshwari responded saying that he would see the matter.
As was informed by Shri R K Singh, AIRIEF's advocate, the registry had placed our cases, along with others, before CJI for directions before the hearing of 4/2/2026. It was also informed that among the part-heard cases by Justice Maheshwari and Justoce Bishnoi, a few cases (2 cases if I recollect correctly) were directed to be listed on 4/2/2026 with the remark - 'list on 4/2/2026 as item number 1' and 'list on 4/2/2026 on top of board'. Due to change in roaster, none of such cases were listed on 4/2/2026, but out of above, one case ( Saidai Duraisami V. M K Stalin) was directed by Hon'ble CJI to be listed on 11/2/2026 in the Spl Bench of Justice Maheshawri and Justice Bishnoi and was taken up by the bench on priority (Our cases were the other lot directed to be listed on 4/2/2026 on top of board).
After commencement of hearing, the advocates were not able to provide details asked for by the bench and submitted to provide the details after instructions from the parties. Bench expressed its annoyance on non-preparedness on the part of advocates saying that the special bench was constituted for this purpose and because of unpreparedness on the part of advocates entire plan of the spl bench is disturbed. After about one and half hour, the bench passed the order to list the case on 17/2/2026 with instructions that 3 hrs time would be given to petitioners advocate and thereafter Respondents Advocate would complete his arguments up to 18/2/2026. Accordingly, the said case was taken up on 17/2/2026 and 18/2/2026. Full time was devoted for the same. Today (18/2/2026), before lunch, Justice Maheshwari directed the advocate of the respondent (Mr. Sibbal) to complete the arguments today itself. But, arguments of Mr. Sibbal were not complete today, so the the bench ordered to list the case on 19/2/2026 for further arguments. As per the causelist of 19/2/2026, only the case of Saidai Duraisami V. M K Stalin is listed in court 3.
So, on 19/11/2026 our cases are not coming.
Shri R K Singh is following up the case in the registry regularly. Keeping in view aforesaid developments, we may expect that direction from CJI would be issued to allot our cases to the spl bench of J Maheshwari and J Bishnoi shortly may be on 25th Feb 2026.
M P Agnihotri.
