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Delhi High Court Defers Mandatory Saturday Sittings Following Significant Opposition From Local Bar Associations
In a significant administrative reversal, the has officially deferred its decision to mandate court sittings on the first and third Saturdays of every month. The move, communicated via a formal notification issued by the Registrar General on , marks an end to a period of intense friction between the judiciary and the practicing legal community.
The Turning Point for Judicial Operations
The policy, originally formalized in a notification dated , sought to address the mounting backlog of cases by extending the operational week into the weekend. This arrangement aimed to increase the number of sitting days, thereby expediting the disposal of pending matters. However, the implementation was met with immediate resistance from various stakeholders, most notably the ().
Stated Grievances and Bar Opposition
The core of the legal community’s concern centered on a perceived lack of consultation prior to the policy's adoption. Advocates argued that the introduction of working Saturdays significantly impacted their logistical capabilities and threatened the work–life balance of lawyers, court staff, and judicial officers.
A survey conducted among 853 legal professionals earlier this year provided quantifiable evidence of this discontent: 70.8% of respondents expressed opposition to the Saturday sittings. Furthermore, a substantial 69.5% of those surveyed expressed skepticism that increasing court days would meaningfully reduce , suggesting instead that addressing and increasing overall strength should be the primary focus for reform.
Key Observations from the Administration
The recent resolution by the acknowledges the ongoing discourse surrounding these operational changes. As per the official notification:
"It has been resolved by the Hon’ble in its meeting held on that the earlier decision... declaring the first and third Saturdays of every month as Court sitting days for this Court be deferred."
The administration further indicated that a committee, to be constituted by the Hon’ble Chief Justice, will now undertake a comprehensive review of all relevant aspects related to .
The Road Ahead
While the immediate requirement for Saturday sittings has been suspended, the broader question of how to efficiently manage the court's case load remains. The formation of the new committee signals a more consultative approach, likely aiming to balance the judiciary's mandate to expedite justice with the practical realities of the bar's operational environment. By pausing the current policy, the High Court has opened the door for a more collaborative framework to be developed before any future adjustments to the work schedule are implemented.
