Writs & Supreme Court

Urgent Mentioning Memo

An Urgent Mentioning Memo is a concise request submitted to the Registrar (Judicial) or Mentioning Officer to seek an early hearing date for a case that is already pending before the court. It is the procedural first step to bring a matter of immediate concern to the court's attention.

This memo is filed when a case cannot wait for its ordinary turn in the cause list. It is not a substantive petition or application but a preliminary note that initiates the process of seeking an out-of-turn listing.

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Governing law
SCR 2013 (mentioning protocol); SC Nov-2025 Mentioning Proforma + Letter of Urgency; HC Original Side rules (mentioning before the Mentioning Officer / Registrar (Judicial))
Filed before
Supreme Court of India / High Court (any seat)

When this is the right filing

  • When a pending matter involves personal liberty, such as a bail application, and cannot await its scheduled hearing.
  • When there is an imminent threat of dispossession, demolition, or other irreparable harm before the next listed date.
  • When a limitation period is about to expire and immediate judicial intervention is required.
  • When an interim order granted earlier is about to lapse and needs urgent extension.
  • Do not use this memo when you are filing a fresh petition or a substantive application; it is only for requesting early listing of an already pending case.

What the court looks for

  • A clear statement that the matter is already pending and its current next date of listing.
  • A precise and compelling reason why the matter cannot wait for its ordinary turn in the cause list.
  • The specific nature of the urgency, such as a threat to liberty, property, or an expiring order.
  • Conformity with the court's mentioning protocol, including any required proforma or letter of urgency.

The structure the court expects

The components of the filed format, in the order they appear. LexPilot fills every one of them from your facts and papers.

  1. 1Urgent mentioning memo
How it opens
3. That the matter cannot await its ordinary turn in the cause list for the reason(s) stated above, and any delay is likely to cause irreparable prejudice to the Petitioner / Applicant.

Bracketed items are filled from your case.

Frequently asked questions

Is an Urgent Mentioning Memo the same as a petition or application?

No. This memo is only a request for an early listing of a case that is already pending. It does not contain the substantive prayers or grounds of a full petition or application.

What is the procedure after submitting the memo?

The memo is placed before the Mentioning Officer or Registrar (Judicial) during the mentioning time. If satisfied with the urgency, the officer may direct the matter to be listed before the appropriate bench on an early date.

Can this memo be filed in any court?

This memo is typically filed in the Supreme Court of India and High Courts that have a formal mentioning procedure. The specific format and protocol may vary by court, such as the Supreme Court's mentioning proforma or a High Court's Original Side rules.

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