The government has advanced a proposal for staggered vacations for judges to the Secretary General of the Supreme Court and Registrars General of 25 High Courts. This measure is designed to keep courts operational year-round for continuous case hearings.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
NEW DELHI: The government has taken a significant step towards judicial reform by forwarding recommendations for staggered vacations for judges to the Secretary General of the Supreme Court and the Registrars General of 25 High Courts for “appropriate consideration.” This proposal aims to ensure that courts remain constantly open and available to hear cases throughout the year.
In a written reply in Lok Sabha today(on 2nd August), Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal emphasized the importance of this reform. He noted that the standing committee on law and personnel had referred to the suggestion made by former Chief Justice of India R M Lodha. Justice Lodha had recommended that instead of all judges taking vacations simultaneously, individual judges should take their leave at different times of the year. This would prevent courts from shutting down entirely during vacation periods, thus ensuring continuous judicial activity.
The committee strongly supported Justice Lodha’s suggestion, asserting that the Judiciary should seriously consider implementing staggered vacations.
“Following this, the government forwarded the Rajya Sabha DRPSC’s recommendations on the matter to the Secretary General of the Supreme Court and the Registrars General of all High Courts for appropriate consideration.”
-Meghwal informed the House.
In February, the committee chaired by the late Sushil Modi presented its action taken report in Parliament. This report urged the government to press the Supreme Court and the 25 High Courts to share their responses promptly on the recommendation of staggered vacations for judges. The committee underscored the necessity of this reform in light of the enormous backlog of cases pending in courts.
ALSO READ: “Rare” First Edition of Indian Constitution Auctioned for Record Price of Rs 48 Lakh
The action taken report was based on an earlier report titled “Judicial Processes and Their Reforms.” In this earlier report, the parliamentary standing committee had highlighted the benefits of staggered vacations. It noted that allowing individual judges to take leave at different times of the year would prevent courts from being shut down for nearly two months annually. This would significantly enhance the efficiency of the judicial system and reduce the delay in the resolution of cases.
By advocating for this change, the committee aims to address one of the most pressing issues in the Indian judicial system: the huge pendency of cases. With courts open year-round, litigants would not have to wait extended periods for their cases to be heard, thereby improving access to justice.
Law Minister Meghwal’s statement in Lok Sabha reflects the government’s commitment to judicial reforms and its willingness to adopt innovative solutions to improve the functioning of the judiciary. The proposed staggered vacations for judges represent a crucial step in ensuring that the courts can handle their caseload more effectively and provide timely justice to the people.
