In a recent development, the Supreme Court responded to criticisms about the extended holidays taken by the judiciary, asserting that those who levy such criticisms fail to grasp the rigorous demands of judicial work. Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta of the Supreme Court bench made these remarks in response to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s defense of the judiciary’s holiday schedule.
The issue surfaced during a hearing concerning a case from West Bengal, wherein the Supreme Court scheduled arguments for a Thursday, just before the onset of its summer vacation commencing on May 20th. The case involves a dispute between the West Bengal government and the CBI, with the former alleging that the latter conducted investigations without the state’s prior consent.
During the hearing, Mehta emphasized that critics of the judiciary’s holiday schedule misunderstand the workload and commitment of judges. Justice Gavai pointed out that judges don’t even take leave on Saturdays and Sundays, highlighting the continuous nature of their responsibilities, including attending functions and conferences.
Mehta further informed the bench that Supreme Court judges handle an average of 50 to 60 cases per day, underscoring the intensity of their workload. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal echoed this sentiment, describing judicial duties as one of the most challenging tasks in the country.
The bench also emphasized that during holidays, judges utilize their time to write judgments for the cases they have presided over, implying that these periods are not merely breaks but crucial for the judicial process. Mehta concluded by stating that criticisms from those unfamiliar with the intricacies of the judicial system are unfounded and lack understanding of the demands placed on judges.
