Vacations Are Partial Working Days Now; Will Have 3 Benches Every Week During Summer Break : Justice BR Gavai

During a hearing, Justice BR Gavai of the Supreme Court recently said that the Court will have 3 Vacation Benches every week during the upcoming summer break.

It may be recalled that the summer break this year will constitute "partial Court working days". The same will commence from 26 May, 2025 and the Full Court working days will resume from 14 July, 2025.

Justice Gavai made the statement yesterday while hearing a petition challenging the blocking of '4PM News' YouTube channel. When the bench issued notice returnable after two weeks, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal (for the petitioner) sought a posting before the vacations.

Justice Gavai then said, "Vacations are partial working days now. It is not a vacation now. We are having three benches working every week." Justice Gavai will be taking charge as the Chief Justice of India on May 14, following the retirement of CJI Sanjiv Khanna.

In 2024, the Supreme Court amended its rules to describe the summer vacation break as "partial Court working days". During summer break of the said year, vacation benches of the Court reportedly disposed of about 1170 cases.

The official notification on constitution of the vacation benches for this year is still awaited. However, the Supreme Court has issued a notice regarding listing of matters during the summer break. Some key aspects of the notice are as follows:

(i) Miscellaneous Matters (fresh, After Notice/Adjourned) shall be listed on every Monday, Tuesday and Friday while Regular Hearing Matters, including urgent mentioned miscellaneous matters shall be listed on every Wednesday and Thursday during the week;

(ii) All Bail Matters, even if they are filed prior to the commencement of the partial Court working days, will be listed during the partial Court working days;

(iii) Hybrid option for hearing of the matters will be available and the Members of the Bar/Party-in-Persons may appear through video conferencing mode.

The Registry of the Court will be functioning throughout the partial Court working days except on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. However, the Registry will remain open on last Saturday of the partial Court working days, that is, 12 July, 2025.