New Delhi | July 12, 2025
In a subtle but striking shift, the Supreme Court of India is rewriting the script on what a court break looks like. This year, the traditional notion of a “summer vacation” gave way to a new model of functioning Partial Working Days (PCWDs). Designed to address rising pendency and preserve judicial efficiency, this model marked a new chapter in the Court’s institutional evolution.
From Vacation Benches to Working Justice
Historically, the summer break in the Supreme Court stretching over six weeks was seen as a complete pause in regular hearings. While a few benches (termed “vacation benches”) would function sporadically for urgent matters, most activity was frozen.
This year, however, May 26 to July 13 was not a recess in the traditional sense. The Court operated through designated benches almost daily, hearing urgent matters and ensuring continuity of justice — with no official closure of registry or courtrooms.
The Architecture of PCWDs
Under the PCWD framework:
• At least two benches sat every day, with some days seeing up to five benches actively hearing cases.
• The registry remained operational, with fixed working hours for officers and support staff.
• Listings were selective, but the system was more open than previous “vacation courts.”
This model aimed to strike a balance between workload management, access to justice, and the judges’ need for research and recuperation.
What Made These Days “Eventful”?
Contrary to what the term “partial” might suggest, this year’s summer period was packed with high-stakes hearings:
• Bail pleas in high-profile cases
• Challenges to environmental orders and interim injunctions
• Urgent election-related disputes
• Re-listing of matters marked as “extremely urgent”
Some benches were even seen pulling long sessions to ensure immediate relief in cases that couldn’t wait for July 15, when full benches resume.
Judges Speak
Justice B.R. Gavai, while heading a summer bench, remarked:
“It’s no longer accurate to call this a vacation. We’re sitting, hearing, deciding. Justice doesn’t stop—it adjusts.”
Similarly, CJI D.Y. Chandrachud had earlier emphasized that the Court must respond to the volume of work pending before it. The PCWD format was a direct institutional response to rising pendency, which now nears 80,000 cases.
In one instance during the PCWD period, a bench dismissed a delayed Special Leave Petition (SLP) by the Vidarbha Hockey Association, citing lack of urgency and pointing out that summer benches should not be used for casual or strategic litigation.
The order sparked discussion within the legal community about what qualifies as “urgent”, and whether clearer guidelines are needed for listing matters during PCWDs.
Why This Matters
India’s judiciary has long struggled with criticism over long court vacations. The PCWD model signals a shift toward greater judicial responsiveness, without undermining the need for recuperation and administrative work.
Lawyers practicing in the apex court have welcomed the model, though some point out that transparency in listings and clarity in urgency standards must now evolve alongside the new schedule.
Final Word
The “Partial Working Days” initiative may not yet be a permanent fixture in the Court’s calendar, but it has undoubtedly changed perceptions of how justice is delivered during breaks. If institutionalized fully, it could mark the beginning of a more balanced, responsive, and citizen-focused Supreme Court.
As courts around the world adapt to rising caseloads, India’s top court may have just offered a new working model one where recess doesn’t mean silence, and justice takes fewer days off.
Case Name: Vidarbha Hockey Association v. Bombay High Court (Nagpur Bench)
