After Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur's emotional speech about the impossible burden of pendency and overwork at a public function attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it was the government's turn on Tuesday to warn the highest judiciary against wasting judicial time on "fruitless" endeavours like entertaining a PIL petition to set up a National Court of Appeal (NCA). Appearing before a Bench led by Chief Justice Thakur, Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi argued strongly against the court referring the PIL petition to a Constitution Bench, even as Chief Justice Thakur said the objective was to suggest reforms and trim pendency. The PIL, filed by Chennai-based advocate V. Vasanthakumar, suggests setting up NCA with regional benches to act as final courts of justice in criminal and civil cases, thus reducing backlog in the apex court. "I am saying that this PIL should not even be entertained. It is completely fruitless to waste time like this when the court's dockets are already full," Mr. Rohatgi submitted. Chief Justice Thakur said his court was only trying to usher in change. "You are only adding to the lawyers' pocket," Mr. Rohatgi responded. "NCA will add one more level of adjudication and will not help decrease litigation. It will only end up being a boon to advocates. It will mean more expense and hardship to the litigant."