This document summarizes Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1044, answered on July 25, 2025, concerning working days in High Courts and the Supreme Court of India. The question inquired about the average number of functional days for these courts over the past three years, whether their vacation schedules result in fewer working days compared to government departments despite high caseloads, and if the government is considering setting a minimum number of compulsory working days to reduce pending cases.
The response clarifies that the working days, hours, and vacation durations of the Supreme Court and High Courts are governed by rules framed by the respective courts. Specifically, the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, amended by the Supreme Court Second Amendment Rules, 2024, regulate the Supreme Court's working days. The 2024 amendment stipulates that the length of 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. Previously the number was 103 days excluding Sundays.
While the disposal of cases is under the judiciary's domain, the government is committed to speedy case disposal and reducing pendency. To assist the judiciary, the government has adopted a coordinated approach involving: infrastructure improvements, including computerization; increasing the number of judicial officers/judges and filling vacancies in High Courts and the Supreme Court; implementing policy and legislative measures in areas prone to excessive litigation; repealing outdated laws; fast-tracking specific case types; and emphasizing Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms. The Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, provided the answer.
Key Entities Referenced
Supreme Court: The highest judicial body in India.
High Courts: The principal civil courts of original jurisdiction in a state.
Minister of Law and Justice: The minister responsible for the Ministry of Law and Justice.
SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL: Minister of State Independent Charge of the Ministry of Law and Justice; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
Constitution: Referring to the Constitution of India, the supreme law of India.
Supreme Court Rules 2013: Rules framed by the Supreme Court in exercise of power conferred by Article 145 of the Constitution to regulate the working days of the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Second Amendment Rules, 2024: Amendment to the Supreme Court Rules 2013, notified on 05th November 2024.
Alternate Dispute Resolution: Methods of resolving disputes outside of the traditional court system.
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
1of 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 05th 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 co-
ordinated 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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