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Bar Draws Red Line: No Saturday Sittings at
In a unanimous and emphatic response, the Bar Association (Regd.) has shot down the High Court's proposal for regular sittings on two Saturdays every month. The letter, addressed to the Registrar General in reply to their communication, argues that extending court hours into the weekend would undermine the very efficiency it seeks to boost.
The association, represented by as Chairman of the relevant committee, insists this isn't a new debate—the General House had already rejected it outright. Yet, they revisited the issue, only to reinforce their stance.
Roots of the Rift: A Quest for Faster Justice?
The High Court administration floated the idea amid mounting case backlogs, seeking the Bar's opinion on adding weekend sittings to clear dockets faster. With an average of 150 cases listed daily before each bench—often running past the official 4 PM close—the pressure is palpable.
But the Bar sees this as a misguided fix. Lawyers highlighted how Sundays are reserved for case preparation and client meetings, leaving Saturday as their sole weekly breather. Clients, too, prefer Sunday visits to chambers, making the weekend rhythm sacrosanct for effective advocacy.
Lawyers' Lament: Preparation Time Under Siege
"All cases which are taken up for arguments during the entire week are generally prepared on Sundays by all the lawyers. In fact, the clients also find it convenient to visit the lawyers' chambers/offices on Sundays. As such, the only holiday available to the High Court lawyers is a Saturday."
Stripping away this day, the Bar warns, would cripple their ability to assist the court meaningfully. No more refreshed minds tackling complex arguments—just fatigued professionals struggling to keep pace.
Judges in the Crosshairs: Exhaustion Before Extension
The letter extends similar empathy to the bench:
"Normally, about 150 cases on an average are put up before any particular Bench, each and every day... By the time Friday arrives, the Hon'ble judges are already exhausted and if by any chance they are forced to work on Saturdays also, their overall efficiency will, in any case, go down."
Some judges already sit till 5 PM or later, pushing human limits. Adding Saturdays? A recipe for burnout, not breakthrough.
Real Remedy: Man Up the Benches, Not the Calendar
Dismissing the move as mere
"optics"
, the Bar pivots to structural solutions. The High Court, sanctioned for 85 judges, has
"never functioned at its full strength"
. Retirements are predictable years in advance—why no advance pipeline?
"It is rather sad that at no point in time the Hon'ble High Court has worked to its full strength of 85 judges. It is also incomprehensible that when the date of retirement of the Hon'ble Judge is known on the date of his appointment... why can't an advance list... be already in place?"
Courtroom crunch? Overblown. With 69 working rooms and 15+ in the basement (previously used), space isn't the issue.
As echoed in reports, the association urges authorities to prioritize zero vacancies over extended hours.
Bar's Bottom Line: Rejection Without Reservation
"The Bar Association completely rejects the idea of any Saturday being made working and will not accept the same."
This firm no carries weight—shaping potential policy without a formal courtroom clash. Implications ripple: expect renewed pushback on weekend work across high courts, alongside louder calls for swift judge appointments. For now, Saturdays stay sacred, safeguarding the stamina needed for justice.
