Alternate vacation for judges: Govt forwards parliamentary panel's report for judicial review

Srinagar, Aug 02: The centre on Friday forwarded the recommendations made by parliamentary committee regarding the staggered vacation for judges to the secretary general of the Supreme Court and registrar generals of 25-high courts for consideration, reports said.

In a written reply in Lok Sabha on Friday, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said that the standing committee on law and personnel had referred to the suggestion of former chief justice of India R M Lodha that instead of all judges going on vacations, all at one time, individual judges should take their leave at different times of the year so that the courts are constantly open and they are always present to hear cases.

The committee was of the opinion that Justice Lodha’s suggestion on court vacations should be considered by the Judiciary, The Print reported.

“Accordingly, the recommendation of the Rajya Sabha DRPSC (department-related standing committee) in respect of the aforementioned subject was forwarded by the government to the Secretary General, Supreme Court and all Registrars General of the respective High Court for appropriate consideration,” Meghwal told the House.

In February, the committee then chaired by late Sushil Modi had tabled its report in the Parliament, asking the government to press the Supreme Court and the 25-high courts to share their response as soon as possible on its recommendation that judges can go for “staggered” vacation keeping in mind the huge pendency of cases.

The action taken report of the committee was based on its earlier report on “Judicial Processes and Their Reforms”.

In the action taken report, the parliamentary standing committee had recalled its earlier recommendation that staggered vacation by individual judges at different times of the year will ensure courts are not shut for nearly two months every year.