The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) has raised objections to the decision mandating that every Bench of the Delhi High Court will observe one working Saturday each month in 2025, citing the absence of consultation with the legal fraternity before implementing the policy.

In a representation dated October 17, signed by DHCBA President, Senior Advocate N. Hariharan, the Association expressed that while it holds the Full Court’s decisions in high regard and supports its initiatives, no prior discussion or communication was made with the Bar before finalizing the decision.

“Since the functioning of Courts necessarily involves the active participation of Advocates, the absence of any consultation with the Bar has caused genuine hardship and a sense of exclusion,” the letter stated.

The representation highlights that the new arrangement would require advocates to remain available every Saturday, as different Benches may choose to sit on different weekends. This, according to the DHCBA, effectively eliminates the uniform weekly holiday and creates uncertainty for practitioners.

The Association emphasized that such an arrangement would cause “practical inconvenience and considerable difficulty”, disrupting lawyers’ work-life balance and placing an uneven burden on members of the Bar.

DHCBA Requests Reconsideration or Uniform Scheduling

The DHCBA has urged the High Court to keep the notification in abeyance or alternatively, fix a single common Saturday for all Benches to sit, thereby ensuring predictability and convenience for both lawyers and litigants.

“In light of the above, it is requested that the said notification be kept in abeyance. Alternatively, the sittings may be held on one fixed Saturday for all Benches to facilitate convenience and predictability,” the letter concluded.