The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) recently resolved to abstain from work on the first and third Saturdays of every month, protesting against the Delhi High Court’s decision to designate those days as regular court sitting days.
In a notice dated April 2, the Executive Committee of the DHCBA said that the decision was taken unanimously in a meeting held on March 27. The boycott will begin on April 4.
The move came after many representations seeking reconsideration of the decision mandating Saturday sittings did not receive a response from the Court.
"Though multiple representations had been made to the Hon'ble High Court, seeking reconsideration of the said decision, however, no reconsideration had taken place," said the DHCBA.
The Delhi High Court had earlier issued a notification on January 15, 2026 stating that the first and third Saturdays of every month would be official court sitting days. The decision marked a departure from the earlier practice where Saturdays were generally holidays, except in limited circumstances.
The DHCBA said that the Executive Committee took into account concerns raised by members regarding the practical challenges posed by Saturday sittings.
“Executive Committee also considered the representations received from the members of the Bar highlighting the serious practical difficulties arising from Saturday sittings. Members had expressed that the present arrangement would cause significant disruption to their professional schedules, including appearances before various tribunals, arbitrations, mediation and courts outside Delhi. The Committee also took note of the adverse impact on preparation time, client meetings and overall professional efficiency,” stated the notice.
The Association has requested all members to cooperate with the decision and abstain from work on the first and third Saturdays every month starting April 4. It also informed members that proxy counsel would be designated for each court on those days.
Additionally, the notice reiterated the Bar’s request to the Delhi High Court to reconsider the policy mandating Saturday sittings. It said,
“The Executive Committee sincerely hopes that the concerns of the Bar will receive due consideration and that an appropriate decision will be taken in the interest of the Bar.”
The issue of Saturday sittings has been a point of friction between the Bar and the Bench for several months. In October 2025, the High Court had introduced an arrangement requiring each Bench to sit on one Saturday every month to expedite case disposal.
The DHCBA had objected to the move, saying that the Bar was not consulted before the decision was taken and warning that it would create logistical difficulties for lawyers.
A Bar & Bench survey conducted in February 2026 also reflected significant opposition within the legal community to the idea of working Saturdays in High Courts.
The survey, which saw 853 respondents, found that 70.8% opposed introducing two working Saturdays a month, while only 29.2% supported the proposal.
A majority of respondents (69.5%) also said that increasing the number of court working days would not meaningfully reduce case pendency. 84.6% felt that the move would negatively affect the work–life balance of advocates, court staff and judges.
Most participants instead identified increasing judicial strength and filling vacancies as more effective ways to address case backlog.
Watch interview with DHCBA Vice President on the issue: