Recently, aimed at promoting transparency and fairness, the Bombay High Court has discontinued the practice of marking certain matters as "High on Board" in its daily cause list.

The decision is intended to dispel any perception that litigants are being classified or given preferential treatment.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne made the announcement during open court proceedings, stating that the court seeks to avoid any impression that certain litigants—particularly those with greater resources—receive priority.

“We have done away with the practice of placing matters ‘High on Board’ or ‘First on Board’,” Chief Justice Aradhe remarked. “We believe this creates a class within litigants, suggesting that those who can afford it are given preference. We do not want to send the wrong message. We hear all listed matters.”

The bench made these observations while responding to a request from an advocate who sought an adjournment in his petition and asked that it be placed "High on Board" on the adjourned date.

Traditionally, matters marked "High on Board" appear among the first 10 cases in the daily cause list and are usually heard earlier in the day.

By scrapping this system, the Court reiterated its commitment to equal treatment for all litigants and reinforced that the judicial process should be free of any appearance of bias or influence.