CJI Slams Lawyers Over Vacation Work Reluctance Amid Supreme Court's Summer Schedule

CJI Slams Lawyers Over Vacation Work Reluctance Amid Supreme Court's Summer Schedule

Last Updated May - 21 - 2025, 04:42 PM | Source : Fela News

CJI B.R. Gavai criticizes lawyers for avoiding work during vacations while judges, including top five, continue hearing cases. SC announces expanded summer benc

On Wednesday, 21 May, Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai expressed frustration over lawyers’ reluctance to work during court vacations, saying that the judiciary is unfairly blamed for case backlogs.

While hearing a matter with Justice Augustine George Masih, the CJI responded sharply when a lawyer requested the listing of a petition after the summer break. “The top five judges are working through the vacation, but the judiciary is still criticised for delays. In truth, it is the lawyers who are unwilling to work during this period,” the CJI remarked.

The Supreme Court recently issued a notification for its summer schedule, now termed “partial court working days,” running from 26 May to 13 July. Notably, 2–5 benches will function during this time, including those led by the senior most judges — a departure from the earlier norm where only two benches operated and senior judges did not hold court.

According to the schedule, from 26 May to 1 June, benches will be led by the CJI and Justices Suryakant, Vikram Nath, J.K. Maheshwari, and B.V. Nagarathna. During this period, the registry will operate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding Sundays, public holidays, and most Saturdays (except 12 July).

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