Prayagraj, February 8 The Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) has written to various bar associations across India, urging them to collectively oppose a proposal to open high courts on two Saturdays every month.
In the letter, the HC Bar Association raised concerns about the impact of additional working days on lawyers, judges, and court staff. They also questioned the assumption that longer court hours would automatically reduce case backlogs.
The HCBA said that while the proposal may appear appealing on the surface, it would ultimately affect the quality of justice.
"Opening courts on two Saturdays in a month needs to be resisted since it may appear superficially attractive and appealing to the uninitiated, but eventually it would affect the quality and quantity of justice while putting the legal fraternity, judicial fraternity and staff concerned to physical strain and psychological stress," the letter said.
The Bar Association said that although courts officially function from 10 am to 4 pm, lawyers' work routinely stretches far beyond that. They added that weekends are often spent preparing complex cases, drafting pleadings, and studying legal material.
"Matters that may be complicated, time-consuming, and require extensive preparation are normally dealt with on Saturdays and Sundays. In fact, Saturday and Sunday are the busiest days for lawyers," the letter added.
The Association also pointed out the pressure on judges and court staff, noting that weekends are frequently used by judges to write judgments and clear reserved cases. They added that court staff are already stretched thin, facing manpower shortages and delays in issuing certified copies of orders.
In the letter dated January 27, they called upon other bar associations across the country to pass resolutions opposing the proposal and to forward them to the Supreme Court, all high courts, and the Union Law Minister.
The proposal for high courts to sit on at least two Saturdays each month has gained momentum in recent months. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has also put forward a similar proposal.
The Delhi High Court has decided to function on the first and third Saturday of every month.