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Court closed till January 1, announcement of Chief Justice the very next day after Law Minister’s taunt on judges’ holidays

Supreme Court Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said on Friday that no bench of the court will be available from December 17 to January 1. In these days there will be winter vacation in the court. The Chief Justice has made this announcement just after the statement of Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, in which he questioned the long holidays in the courts. In the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Kiren Rijiju had said that there is a feeling among people that courts have long holidays. Due to this, the people demanding justice are in trouble. Addressing the lawyers present in the courtroom, the Chief Justice said that no bench would be available between December 17 and January 1.

Today was the last working day of the Supreme Court before the two-week winter break. Now the work will start in the court from January 2. Questions have been raised earlier also regarding the holidays of the judges. However, former Chief Justice NV Ramana dismissed these questions and said that there is a misconception in the society that judges take a lot of leave and enjoy. In July this year, he said in a lecture in Ranchi that judges sometimes stay awake whole night thinking about their decisions.

He had said, ‘There is an impression in the minds of the people that they live very comfortably. They work 10 to 4 and have fun on holidays. Such a belief is wrong. If this narrative is created about the judges that they take rest, then it is wrong and cannot be accepted. He said that the work of judges is very complex and cumbersome. They have to think that what will be the effect of their decision on the human society. He said that sometimes we work on weekends too. In the meantime, we do research and write up pending decisions. During this time we miss many celebrations of our life.

Earlier in November last year, former Justice Jayant Nath of the Delhi High Court had said that the notion that Judges get holidays like schools is wrong. He also said that we have to work hard so that this perception can be changed. He had said that it is true that there are many cases pending in the courts for a long time. Unfortunately, people hold the courts responsible for the delay in disposal of cases.