The Supreme Court on Wednesday advised that senior lawyers should refrain from arguing cases during the court’s summer recess, now formally termed “partial court working days.”
The bench, led by Justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma, emphasized the importance of giving junior lawyers a platform during this period.
“Senior Lawyers Should Not Argue”
During a hearing on a plea challenging an order from the National Company Law Tribunal, senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, and Neeraj Kishan Kaul appeared before the bench.
The court, however, noted their presence and remarked, “Senior lawyers should not argue cases during these partial working days.”
The observation came after one of the counsels requested an adjournment, citing the unavailability of senior advocate Shyam Divan.
Rebranding Summer Vacation
Traditionally, the Supreme Court has observed extended summer and winter breaks. Though not entirely closed, the court operated with limited benches—known as “vacation benches”—to handle urgent matters. However, this terminology has now undergone a significant change.
With the notification of the Supreme Court (Second Amendment) Rules, 2024, on November 5, several modifications have been introduced. The most prominent is the replacement of the term “vacation judge” with simply “judge.”
Controlled Breaks Under New Rules
The amended rules provide more structure to the court’s working calendar. “The length of the partial court working days and the number of holidays for the court and the offices of the court shall be such as may be fixed by the Chief Justice and notified in the official gazette so as not to exceed 95 days excluding Sundays,” states the official notification.
This move is seen as an effort to increase judicial efficiency while still maintaining necessary downtime for the courts.
As per the newly released 2025 Supreme Court calendar, the partial court working days will span from May 26, 2025, to July 14, 2025. During this period, regular functioning will be limited, but the court will continue to address pressing and urgent cases.
A Move Towards Inclusivity
This directive from the apex court underscores a broader goal—creating space for junior advocates to gain visibility and courtroom experience. With senior counsels stepping back during recess, the next generation of legal professionals is expected to benefit from the increased responsibility and exposure.
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