The Indian judiciary comprises the Supreme Court, High Courts, and subordinate courts. The significant number of Court holidays in India has been subject to criticism. These include long vacations such as the summer vacation, winter vacation, and Dussehra/Diwali breaks. All this in addition to gazetted and regional holidays. This system has frequently attracted public criticism in light of India’s massive case pendency. At the same time, judges, lawyers, and legal scholars strongly defend these holidays as essential to judicial functioning. The debate raises an important question: Are court holidays an outdated privilege or a practical necessity? Let us explore!
The Criticism: “Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied”
1. Massive Case Pendency
India has almost 5 crore pending cases across various courts. Critics argue that long court vacations worsen delays and undermine the constitutional promise of speedy justice under Article 21. The argument is simple:
- Courts already function for limited hours
- Judges are overburdened
- Closing courts for weeks at a time appears inconsistent with public need
To litigants waiting years for resolution, court holidays often feel disconnected from reality.
2. Comparison with Other Institutions
Another criticism of Court holidays in India is comparative. Most essential public institutions, such as hospitals, administrative offices, and even legislatures do not shut down for extended vacations. In contrast, the Supreme Court traditionally closes for about six to seven weeks in summers, which critics label as a colonial-era practice unsuited to the needs of present day India.
3. Perception of Elitism
Court vacations are often portrayed as reinforcing the idea that the judiciary is insulated from the hardships of ordinary citizens. According to some, this perception erodes public confidence in the justice system.
The Justification: Protecting Judicial Independence and Quality
1. Judges Work Beyond Court Hours
Supporters of court holidays emphasize that judging does not end when court rises. To deliver a judgment, Judges are often required to:
- Read voluminous case records
- Research law and precedents
- Write detailed, reasoned judgments
Unlike many professions, much of a judge’s work is intellectual, solitary, and continuous, often extending late into the night and weekends. Vacations provide uninterrupted time for judgment writing and legal research.
2. No Complete Shutdown: Vacation Benches
Another important facet of Court holidays in India is that courts are never entirely closed. During vacations:
- Vacation benches are there to hear urgent matters
- Bail, habeas corpus, and constitutional emergencies are addressed
Thus, access to justice is reduced but not eliminated.
3. Human Limits and Judicial Burnout
Judicial work involves making decisions that affect people’s life, liberty, property, and governance. People who support court holidays in India argue that continuous adjudication without breaks can lead to:
- Mental fatigue
- Reduced quality of reasoning
- Higher risk of error
Court holidays are therefore seen as essential to maintaining judicial efficiency and integrity, which is itself a component of justice.
4. Structural Issues, Not Holidays, Cause Delays
Many judges and scholars argue that pendency is caused by:
- Judicial vacancies
- Inadequate court infrastructure
- Excessive government litigation
- Procedural delays
From this perspective, reducing holidays without addressing structural gaps may be symbolic, but ineffective reform.
Conclusion
Court holidays in India lay at the intersection of public perception, judicial workload, and constitutional values. While criticism rooted in delay and accessibility is valid, the justification grounded in judicial independence, human limitations, and quality of justice is equally compelling. The real challenge lies not in framing court holidays as a privilege or problem, but in designing a judicial system balancing efficiency with fairness, speed with soundness, and accessibility with sustainability.
Justice, after all, is not only about how fast decisions are delivered, but also about how well they are made.
