The Supreme Court on Wednesday voiced its ongoing difficulty in securing cooperation from members of the legal fraternity to continue court proceedings during the summer vacation.
Justice Surya Kant, speaking during a hearing, remarked, “We are struggling since yesterday only to convince Bar to please work during vacation, we want to work.” His comment came after he inquired whether Senior Advocate Aryama Sundaram would be available in the first week of the court recess. When informed that the senior counsel might not be available, Justice Kant expressed the judiciary’s readiness to work through the break, contrasting it with the Bar’s apparent reluctance.
“We want to work,” he emphasized, highlighting the disconnect between the judiciary’s intent and the Bar’s response.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati suggested listing the matter for consideration, while Justice Dipankar Datta pointed out that the court had not yet formally entered vacation. Justice Kant added that current court sessions were operating on a “partial working day” basis.
The exchange also took a humorous turn when Justice Kant asked, “Mr. Gopal Subramanium is here?” A counsel responded with a grin, calling it a “leading question,” drawing laughter across the courtroom.
Earlier in the day, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai made a similar observation, noting that while judges often work during vacation, it is the judiciary that faces public criticism over case backlogs. “The first five judges are sitting through the vacation and continuing to work, yet we are blamed for the backlog. In reality, it is the lawyers who are unwilling to work during the vacations,” the CJI stated.
The Supreme Court’s summer vacation is scheduled from May 26 to July 14. In anticipation, the Court issued a notification on May 17, announcing that 21 vacation benches will remain functional during this period to ensure continuity of judicial work.
