Allahabad High Court Bar Association Mobilizes National Opposition to Saturday Court Proposal
In a significant development from Prayagraj, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) has taken a firm stance against a proposal that would require High Courts across India to function on two Saturdays every month. The association has dispatched letters to various bar associations throughout the country, calling for unified resistance to what it describes as a potentially detrimental change to the judicial system.
Concerns Over Impact on Legal Fraternity and Justice Quality
The HCBA has raised substantial concerns regarding the proposal's impact on lawyers, judges, and court staff. In a detailed letter dated January 27, signed by HCBA President Rakesh Pande and Secretary Akhilesh Kumar Sharma, the association argued that while the idea might seem superficially appealing to reduce case backlogs, it would ultimately compromise the quality of justice.
The letter stated: "Opening of courts on two Saturdays a month needs to be resisted. It may appear superficially attractive and appealing to the uninitiated, but would affect the quality and quantity of justice while putting the legal fraternity, judicial fraternity and staff concerned to physical strain and psychological stress."
Challenging the Corporate-Style Productivity Approach
The bar association has linked the proposal to what it calls a "corporate-style approach to productivity," where longer working hours are mistakenly equated with increased output. The HCBA emphasized that effective judicial work depends more on efficiency within a stress-free environment rather than merely extending sitting days.
Explaining the realities of legal practice, the association noted that although official court hours run from 10 am to 4 pm, lawyers' work routinely extends far beyond this timeframe. Weekends are typically dedicated to preparing complex cases, drafting legal pleadings, and studying extensive legal materials.
"Matters which may be complicated, time-consuming and need extensive preparation are normally dealt with on Saturdays and Sundays. In fact, Saturday and Sunday are the busiest days for lawyers," the letter elaborated, highlighting how additional court sittings would significantly reduce crucial preparation time.
Growing Resistance Across the Country
The proposal for High Courts to sit on at least two Saturdays each month has gained momentum in recent months, with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant among those advocating for the change. However, the initiative has encountered resistance from multiple bar associations nationwide, including those in Delhi and Kerala, who have warned about potential strain on the justice system.
The HCBA has specifically challenged the narrative that case pendency is primarily linked to fewer working days. "We may point out that a fallacious narrative indicating pendency of cases in High Courts on account of courts working for a lesser number of days is setup by vested interest or persons not aware to the functioning of the judicial system," the association asserted in its communication.
Practical Concerns About Court Staff and Infrastructure
Beyond the impact on lawyers and judges, the HCBA letter pointed to practical concerns regarding court staff who are already stretched thin. The association highlighted existing manpower shortages and delays in issuing certified copies of court orders as evidence that the system lacks the capacity to accommodate additional working days without compromising service quality.
The bar association has called upon other bar associations across Uttar Pradesh and throughout India to pass formal resolutions opposing the proposal and forward them to the Supreme Court, all High Courts, and the Union Law Minister. This coordinated effort represents a significant mobilization of the legal community against what many perceive as a fundamental change to judicial working patterns.
As the debate continues, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association's initiative has positioned Prayagraj at the center of a national conversation about judicial reform, work-life balance in the legal profession, and the most effective approaches to addressing India's substantial case backlog.
