No More 'Vacations', Supreme Court To Have 'Partial Working Days' Instead

The revised  Supreme Court (Second Amendment) Rules, 2024, were notified by the top court on November 5 with the approval of the President. 

The Supreme Court has amended its rules to substitute the term 'summer vacation/vacation' with 'partial court working days' and 'Vacation judge with judge'. The revised  Supreme Court (Second Amendment) Rules, 2024, were notified by the top court on November 5 with the approval of the President. 

The new rules have made significant adjustments to the structure of the annual schedule of the Supreme Court.  

According to the new rules, the top court will now operate with a modified schedule known as "partial court working days." During these periods, the Supreme Court will remain open for a set number of days, with operations managed as per the directions of the Chief Justice of India.

The revised rules aim to ensure that the top court continues to function effectively during periods of reduced sittings, addressing urgent matters while providing flexibility for judges and staff.

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. 

"In Order VI of said rules, in rule 6,- for rule 6, (a) in the opening paragraph, for the words “During the vacation, the Vacation Judge”, the words “During the partial Court Working days, the Judge," shall be substituted..." the amended rules read.

During partial Court working days, one or more judges may be assigned to hear urgent matters, so that critical cases do not face unnecessary delays. This includes admission hearings, regular matters of an urgent nature, and other cases as directed by the Chief Justice.

 The Supreme Court's sittings will now be divided into two annual terms, with the first term concluding before the Christmas and New Year holidays and the second term beginning afterward. 

Notably, the amended rules were notified on November 5, in the last working week of outgoing Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.

The last working week of CJI DY Chandrachud has seen a string of crucial verdicts which includes the validity of Madrasa Act, the government's power to takeover private property for common good, the rules for recruitments to government job and sending Jet Airways to liquidity, have come from the Supreme Court. But, the most unexpected change is the amendment made to the Supreme Court rules regarding the court vacations.