Allahabad High Court Bar Urges Nationwide Opposition to Proposal for Working Saturdays
By Rajesh Pandey
The Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) has written to bar associations across the country, calling for a united stand against the proposal to make High Courts function on at least two Saturdays every month.
The association has cautioned that the move, though seemingly attractive, could undermine the quality of justice while placing excessive strain on lawyers, judges and court staff.
In its communication, the HCBA expressed serious reservations about the assumption that increasing the number of court working days would automatically reduce the pendency of cases.
The association argued that extending court sittings could prove counterproductive by eroding preparation time and increasing physical and psychological stress within the justice system.
“Opening of courts on two Saturdays in a month needs to be resisted,” the letter stated, adding that while the idea may appear superficially appealing to those unfamiliar with judicial functioning, it would ultimately harm both the quality and quantity of justice.
The Bar warned that such a change would subject the legal fraternity, the judiciary and court staff to sustained pressure.
Explaining the realities of legal practice, the HCBA pointed out that although court hours are officially from 10 am to 4 pm, lawyers’ workdays routinely extend well beyond those hours. Weekends, it said, are crucial for preparing complex cases, drafting pleadings and studying legal material.
“Matters which are complicated, time-consuming and require extensive preparation are normally dealt with on Saturdays and Sundays. In fact, Saturday and Sunday are among the busiest days for lawyers,” the letter noted.
The association further argued that additional court sittings would directly impact the quality of legal assistance available to litigants by reducing preparation time.
It also criticised what it described as a “corporate-style approach” to judicial productivity, where longer working hours are equated with higher output.
According to the HCBA, effective judicial functioning depends on efficiency in a stress-free environment, not on the mere extension of working days.
Highlighting the burden on judges and court staff, the Bar Association said weekends are often used by judges to write judgments and dispose of reserved matters.
Court staff, it added, are already overstretched due to manpower shortages and delays in routine administrative work, including the issuance of certified copies.
The HCBA also challenged what it called a misleading narrative linking case pendency to fewer court working days.
“The suggestion that pendency in High Courts is due to courts functioning for fewer days is fallacious and promoted either by vested interests or by those unfamiliar with the judicial system,” the letter said.
In its letter dated January 27, 2026, the HCBA urged bar associations across Uttar Pradesh and the country to pass resolutions opposing the proposal and to forward them to the Supreme Court of India, all High Courts and the Union Law Minister.
The communication is signed by HCBA president Rakesh Pande and secretary Akhilesh Kumar Sharma.
The proposal for High Courts to sit on at least two Saturdays every month has gained momentum in recent months, with Surya Kant, the Chief Justice of India, also mooting the idea.
However, the move has faced growing resistance from bar associations in several states, including the Delhi High Court Bar Association and Kerala High Court Advocates Association, which have warned that the proposal could further strain an already burdened justice delivery system.
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