In a historic first, the Supreme Court of India convenes winter vacation benches to hear urgent cases. Chief Justice Surya Kant personally presides, ensuring critical matters on life, liberty, and public interest are addressed without delay.
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NEW DELHI: In a historic move, the Supreme Court of India constituted vacation benches during the winter break, marking a crucial departure from long-standing judicial practice. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant personally presided over several sittings, underscoring the court’s commitment to hearing urgent matters involving life, liberty, and immediate judicial intervention, even during holidays.
Traditionally, the Supreme Court has convened vacation benches only during the longer summer recess, now termed partial court working days. However, during the winter vacation from December 22 to January 2, 2026, the apex court decided to extend this practice for the first time.
The court remained officially closed for the Christmas and New Year holidays and is scheduled to reopen on January 5, 2026. Yet, urgent cases continued to be heard through specially constituted benches.
Earlier, on December 19, CJI Surya Kant had clarified that vacation benches, including those led by him, would function during the winter break to prevent delays in critical cases.
First Winter Vacation Sitting: 17 Urgent Cases Heard
On December 22, the first day of the winter recess, a vacation bench comprising CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard 17 urgent matters, covering both criminal and civil disputes. The Supreme Court said the special sittings were aimed at ensuring that pressing cases did not go unheard during the holiday period.
On December 29, a three-judge vacation bench led by the Chief Justice heard a suo motu case concerning the revised definition of the Aravalli hills, following widespread public concern.
The bench kept its earlier directions issued on November 20 in abeyance, which had accepted a uniform definition of the Aravalli ranges. The court flagged serious ambiguities, particularly whether criteria such as a 100-metre elevation and a 500-metre gap between hills could strip large portions of the environmentally sensitive range of legal protection.
Unnao Rape Case: Supreme Court Stays Suspension of Sentence
During the winter break, another vacation bench comprising Justices J K Maheshwari and Augustine George Masih stayed the Delhi High Court’s order suspending the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case.
While hearing the CBI’s challenge, the Supreme Court directed that Sengar should not be released from custody, noting that substantial questions of law had arisen. The bench also sought Sengar’s response.
Online Hearings on New Year’s Eve
On December 31, a vacation bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Prashant Kumar Mishra conducted online hearings in two matters, including:
- A habeas corpus petition alleging illegal arrest by the Uttar Pradesh Police
- A civil property dispute
Supreme Court Issues SOP to Streamline Hearings
Meanwhile, on December 29, the Supreme Court issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aimed at improving court efficiency and case management.
Key highlights of the SOP include:
- Lawyers must submit proposed timelines for oral arguments at least one day before hearings via the court’s online portal
- Written submissions limited to five pages must be filed at least three days in advance, after serving copies to the opposing party
The SOP takes effect immediately and is designed to speed up the delivery of justice.
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