The Supreme Court’s Partial Working Days model signals a shift from tradition to continuity in justice. Redefining court breaks brings consistency and urgency to the judicial calendar.
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NEW DELHI: In a quiet but impactful shift, the Supreme Court of India is restructuring the concept of summer recess. Traditionally marked by a complete halt in proceedings, this year’s summer break brought with it a new model, Partial Court Working Days (PCWDs).
Operational from May 26 to July 13, this shift reflects a deeper institutional response to rising pendency, efficiency concerns, and growing demands for uninterrupted access to justice.
Over the past several years, the summer break in India’s apex court has been an almost complete pause in proceedings, with only a handful of “vacation benches” handling urgent cases. These benches had limited jurisdiction, and much of the court’s administrative and courtroom machinery remained dormant.
But in 2024, that tradition underwent a shift. The court didn’t officially shut down. Instead, most days saw steady judicial activity, not at full throttle, but sufficiently active to keep the wheels of justice turning.
Partial Court Working Days (PCWD)
Under the Partial Court Working Days framework:
- At least two benches sat every day, with some days seeing as many as five benches functioning simultaneously.
- The registry remained operational, maintaining a steady administrative flow.
- Hearings were selectively listed, striking a careful balance between urgency and the need for judicial recuperation.
This new shift aimed to optimize workload distribution, improve judicial responsiveness, and respect the legitimate need for judges to devote time to writing judgments and recharging mentally.
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Despite being termed “partial,” this year’s summer working period saw high-profile and high-stakes matters being taken up, including:
- Bail applications in politically sensitive and celebrity cases
- Election-related disputes ahead of crucial state and national-level developments
- Challenges to environmental rulings and injunctions
- Re-listing of cases marked as “extremely urgent”
In several instances, benches held extended hours, underscoring a judicial commitment to ensuring timely relief.
What did the Judges Say
Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, while presiding over a summer bench, noted,
“It’s no longer accurate to call this a vacation. We’re sitting, hearing, deciding. Justice doesn’t stop, it adjusts.”
Similarly, Ex-Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud had earlier referred to the need for systemic adaptation in light of the Court’s pending case loads, now brushing up against 80,000 pending matters.
In one instance about decisions during the PCWD period, a summer bench dismissed a delayed Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Vidarbha Hockey Association. The bench ruled that the case lacked real urgency and should not clog the summer docket meant for pressing concerns.
Why This Shift
India’s judiciary has often been criticized for long vacations perceived as being out of touch with the common citizens’ needs. The PCWD model, in that context, is a refreshing change, one that maintains judicial dignity while addressing public expectations for consistent justice delivery.
Although the advocates practicing in the Apex Court have largely supported this initiative, many have emphasized the need for greater transparency in case listings and more precise criteria for determining urgency.
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