Revision of Summer Vacation in Courts

The duration of vacations is governed by the Rules/Regulations framed by the concerned High Courts and the Supreme Court. The vacation/working days/working hours in the District /Subordinate Courts are regulated by the respective High Court.

The Supreme Court has notified the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 on 27th May, 2014 wherein, inter-alia, it is provided that the period of summer vacation shall not exceed seven weeks. It is further provided that the length of the summer vacation and the number of holidays for the Court and the offices of the Court shall be such as may be fixed by the Chief Justice and notified in the official Gazette so as not to exceed one hundred and three days, excluding Sundays not falling in the vacation and during Court holidays. The Supreme Court Rules, 2013 will come into force with effect from 19th August, 2014.

From the media reports, it has come to the notice of the Government that the Chief Justice of India has suggested to keep the Supreme Court, High Courts and trial Courts open 365 days in a year by preparing a calendar for arranging the benches in the Supreme Court and High Courts to ensure that judiciary functions throughout the year. The media has also reported reservations expressed by the Bar Associations in this regard.

Government does not have under its consideration any proposal to abolish/curtail the practice of summer vacation in the Courts.

The above statement was submitted by Min of Law & Justice in reply of undermentioned Lok Sabha Question:-

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 3534

ANSWERED ON 04.08.2014

(a) whether Government proposes to abolish/curtail the long summer vacations in the Supreme Court, High Court and other subordinate courts;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the suggestions/observations made by the jurists in this regard along with the action taken by the Government thereon?