The Delhi High Court has revised its break schedule following the Supreme Court’s remark about “taking breaks unnecessarily.” The first half of court proceedings will now run from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has adjusted its lunch break and court session timings shortly after the Supreme Court criticized high court judges for taking frequent breaks.
In a notice, the Delhi High Court announced that the first half of the court session will now run from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM.
The lunch break will then take place from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM, followed by a resumption of court proceedings from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM.
Earlier, The Supreme Court addressed concerns regarding high court judges taking “unnecessary and frequent breaks”, calling for performance audits.
This discussion arose from a plea by four individuals who approached the Supreme Court, claiming that the Jharkhand High Court had reserved its decision on their criminal appeal against conviction and life sentences in 2022, yet had not pronounced the judgment.
In Indian courts, especially in higher courts like the Supreme Court and High Courts, a lunch break is a regular part of the daily court schedule.
- Timing: The lunch break usually occurs around 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, although this can vary slightly depending on the court and the judge’s discretion.
- Supreme Court of India:
- Court generally starts at 10:30 AM.
- Lunch break is from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
- After lunch, the court resumes till about 4:00 PM, though some benches may rise earlier or sit longer depending on the workload.
Also Read: ‘Summer Vacation’ Renamed As ‘Partial Court Working Days’ : Supreme Court
- High Courts:
- Most High Courts follow a similar pattern, starting around 10:15–10:30 AM, with a lunch break around 1 PM, and court resuming until 4:00–4:30 PM.
- Subordinate Courts (District Courts):
- These may start earlier, around 10:00 AM, with a lunch break between 1:30 PM to 2:15 PM, depending on the state or region.
This lunch break gives judges, advocates, court staff, and litigants time to rest and refresh before the second half of the session begins.