Lok Sabha Question No. 1044 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-25
Subject: Work Days in High Courts and the Supreme Court
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Shri Rajeev Rai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1044

## ANSWERED ON 25/07/2025

## Work Days in High Courts and the Supreme Court

## 1044. SHRI RAJEEV RAI:

Will the Minister of Law and Justice be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the average number of days for which High Courts and the Supreme Court were functional during the last three years;
- (b) whether it is a fact that the Supreme Court and High Courts in the country go for vacations at stipulated intervals every year and work less than Government departments despite huge number of cases pending for their adjudications;
- (c) whether the Government is considering fixing a minimum number of compulsory working days for courts in a year to reduce the burden of pending cases; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a) & (b) : Working days/hours and duration of vacations in the Supreme Court and in the High Courts are regulated by the rules framed by the respective Courts. The Supreme Court Rules 2013, as notified by the Supreme Court in exercise of power conferred by Article 145 of the Constitution, regulate the working days of Supreme Court. These rules provided that the period

of summer vacation shall not exceed seven weeks. These rules further provided that the length of the summer vacation and the number of holidays for the Court and the offices of the Court shall be such as may be fixed by the Chief Justice and notified in the official Gazette so as not to exceed one hundred and three days (excluding Sundays not falling in the vacation and during Court holidays). The  Supreme Court Rule 2013 was further amended vide Supreme Court (Second Amendment) Rules, 2024 notified on 05 th November 2024, which provides that the length of the partial Court working days and the number of holidays for the Court and the offices of the Court shall be such as may be fixed by the Chief Justice and notified in the Official Gazette so as not to exceed ninety-five days excluding Sundays.

(c)  &  (d)  :  Disposal  of  cases  pending  in  courts  is  within  the  domain  of  Judiciary. Though Government has no role in disposal of cases in courts, the Central Government is committed to speedy disposal of cases and reduction in pendency. The Government has adopted a coordinated approach to assist judiciary for phased liquidation of arrears and pendency in judicial systems,  through  various  strategic  initiatives  like  improving  the  infrastructure  for  courts including computerisation, increase in strength of judicial  officers/judges and filling up of vacant positions in High Courts/Supreme Courts, policy and legislative measures in areas prone to excessive litigation, repeal of outdated and archaic laws, initiatives to fast track special type of cases and emphasis on Alternate Dispute Resolution etc.

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