The government today said it has no proposal under its consideration to curtail the vacation period and extend the working hours in courts, a statement which comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi hinted that long vacations are hurting disposal of cases.
Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that the "government does not have under its consideration any proposal to curtail the vacation period and extend the working hours in the courts."
He said the duration of vacation is governed by the rules and regulations framed by the concerned high court and the Supreme Court. The vacation or working days or working hours in the district and subordinate courts are regulated by the respective high court.
Addressing a conference of chief ministers and chief justices here on Sunday, Modi had recalled that in one such conferences he had attended as the Gujarat Chief Minister, he had flagged the issue of reducing vacation in courts and holding morning and evening courts.
But during lunch break at that event he was in for trouble as some judges had questioned the idea. "I was afraid from that very day," he had said.
Responding to the issue, Chief Justice of India T S Thakur later that day told reporters that "we don't go to Manali. Judges of constitutional benches write their order... When one side is ready, the other is not. Ask the Bar if they are ready," he had said.
Considering the staggering arrears, vacations in the higher judiciary must be curtailed by at least 10 to 15 days and the court working hours should be extended by at least half-an hour, a Law Commission report titled 'Reforms in the judiciary: Some suggestions' had recommended in 2009.
The Supreme Court Rules, 2013, which came into force on August 19, 2014 states that summer vacations shall not exceed seven weeks from the earlier 10 weeks.
