DHCBA requests reconsideration of Circular making Saturdays working days

The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) has formally requested the Delhi High Court to reconsider and keep in abeyance its decision declaring the first and third Saturdays of every month as regular working days, warning that the move has triggered widespread dissatisfaction within the Bar and could adversely impact the quality of justice delivery.

The controversy stems from a High Court circular issued on January 15, announcing the change in the court calendar, despite prior objections raised by the Bar. In a representation dated February 4 and addressed to Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and companion judges, the DHCBA contended that increasing working days is not a sustainable solution to mounting case pendency. Instead, the association pointed to the existence of 16 vacant judicial posts, arguing that timely appointments would address delays more effectively than extending court sittings.

While the High Court is yet to respond, the Bar’s letter highlights serious institutional concerns. It cautions that continuous Saturday sittings would intensify physical and mental fatigue among lawyers, impairing courtroom efficiency, and could also contribute to judicial burnout given judges’ existing responsibilities of hearings, administration, and judgment writing.

Stressing that statutory sitting requirements are already fulfilled, the DHCBA asserted, “We believe that the requisite quota of 210 days of regular court’s sitting is met even without the insistence of the 1st & 3rd Saturday being made regular court days,” and urged that the circular’s operation be suspended pending reconsideration.