CJI Gavai Expresses Frustration Over Lawyers' Reduced Workload During Summer Vacation. He noted that five judges are working during the vacation, yet criticism is directed solely at the judges.
New Delhi – Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud expressed his displeasure on Wednesday regarding the lack of engagement from lawyers during the summer vacation. He stated that while five senior Supreme Court judges are regularly working during the break, it is unfair to solely blame the judiciary for pending cases.
What is the Full Story?
The incident occurred when a lawyer requested the Supreme Court to list their petition after the summer vacation. This prompted Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice J.B. Pardiwala to express their dissatisfaction.
The CJI stated that five judges are continuously working even during the summer vacation. Despite this, the judiciary is blamed for the long queue of cases. In reality, lawyers themselves are unwilling to work during the vacation.
CJI's Clear Displeasure: "The Reality is Different"
Gavai also stated that the judiciary is often blamed for pending cases, but people should also consider that lawyers are not readily available for work even when the court remains open during the vacation.
What are 'Partial Court Working Days'?
The Supreme Court recently issued a notification designating the period from May 26 to July 13 as 'Partial Court Working Days'. This means that select benches will continue to function during the vacation.
This year, during the summer recess, not just two but five benches will be operational. These five benches will include the top judges of the Supreme Court, including CJI D.Y. Chandrachud himself.
Which Judges are on Duty?
The benches working from May 26 to June 1 will be headed by the following judges:
- CJI D.Y. Chandrachud
- Justice Surya Kant
- Justice Vikram Nath
- Justice J.K. Maheshwari
- Justice B.V. Nagarathna
All of them have been assigned to different benches to ensure the continuous hearing of cases.
Registry Operational Hours
The Supreme Court registry will remain open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM during the vacation. The registry will be closed every Saturday (except July 12th), Sunday, and public holiday. This indicates that administrative work will also continue.
