The Supreme Court of India will begin functioning on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month, effective from July 14, 2025. This decision comes as part of an effort to tackle the growing number of pending cases in the apex court.
Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud announced the change during an official statement earlier this week. With the case backlog reaching critical levels, the court aims to use these additional working days to speed up hearings and improve overall case disposal rates.
According to officials from the court registry, the revised schedule will include fresh cause lists for the newly added working Saturdays. Regular benches will be assigned to hear cases, and courtrooms will operate similarly to regular weekdays.
Reactions from the legal community have been mixed. While many senior advocates and legal bodies welcomed the move as a positive step toward faster justice delivery, some raised concerns about the potential impact on the health and workload of lawyers and judges.
The Bar Council of India expressed support for the change, calling it a necessary adjustment in the face of rising pendency. Meanwhile, members of the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) requested that the court consider implementing support mechanisms to maintain work-life balance.
Legal experts believe this development could encourage other courts, including High Courts and subordinate courts, to consider similar steps. However, they emphasized that long-term solutions such as judicial appointments, better infrastructure, and technological upgrades are equally crucial.
This administrative shift marks a major step in reforming the Indian judicial calendar and signals a strong intent to address long-standing concerns about delays in the justice system.
