New Delhi. The Supreme Court on Wednesday strongly objected to recent criticism about its holidays and the working hours of judges. The Supreme Court said that we start working till midnight even during holidays. The vacation bench of Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma expressed its anger over the recent remarks of economist Sanjeev Sanyal. Who had reportedly said that judges in India work only for a few hours and go on long holidays.
The bench said that ‘very unfortunately, despite the efforts being made by the judges, it is said that the judges work very less hours. The people who say all this are part of the government. Not a single case filed by the Union (Government) etc. has been filed within the limits. In every case there is a delay condonation application. All those who criticize the judiciary should pay attention to this. Justice Dutta said, ‘We work at midnight even during holidays.’
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, the second senior law officer of the central government, was present in the court at that time. He also agreed with the bench’s comments. Mehta said that the Supreme Court is the apex institution with the longest and toughest working hours. Senior lawyer and President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Kapil Sibal said that the Supreme Court is one of the most working courts.
The brief interaction in the Supreme Court took place when the bench refused to consider the plea of jailed former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren challenging his arrest in a money-laundering case. Another bench of the Supreme Court had recently remarked that those who criticize court holidays do not realize that judges do not even enjoy weekends. The Supreme Court had opined that holidays provide necessary time to draft long decisions.
FIRST PUBLISHED : May 22, 2024, 19:33 IST