Allahabad High Court Bar Association opposes proposal to work on two Saturdays a month

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) has written to various Bar Associations across India, urging collective opposition to the proposal to make High Courts function on two Saturdays every month.

In a letter dated January 27, 2026, the association flagged concerns over the impact of additional working days on lawyers, judges and court staff. They also questioned the assumption that longer court hours would automatically reduce case backlogs.

The HCBA argued that the proposal may appear appealing on the surface but would eventually affect the quality of justice.

"Opening of courts on two Saturdays in a month needs to be resisted since it may appear to superficially attractive and appealing to the uninitiated but, eventually, it would affect the quality and quantity of justice while putting the legal fraternity, judicial fraternity & staff concerned to physical strain and psychological stress," the letter said.

Explaining the realities of the legal profession, the Bar Association said that although court hours officially run from 10 AM to 4 PM, lawyers’ work routinely stretches far beyond that. It added that weekends are often spent preparing complex cases, drafting pleadings and studying legal material.

“Matters which may be complicated, time consuming and need extensive preparation are normally dealt with on Saturdays & Sundays… Infact Saturday and Sunday are the busiest day for lawyers,” the letter said.

It added that additional court sittings would affect preparation time and the quality of legal assistance.

The Association also linked the proposal to what it described as a "corporate-style approach to productivity", where longer working hours are equated with increased output.

It stated that effective judicial work depends on efficiency in a stress-free environment rather than on the extension of court sitting days.

The HCBA also pointed to the pressure on judges and court staff, noting that weekends are frequently used by judges to write judgments and clear reserved cases. It added that court staff are already stretched thin, facing manpower shortages and delays in issuing certified copies of orders.

The letter further challenged the narrative that the pendency of cases is linked to fewer court 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," said the letter.

The HCBA called upon other Bar Associations to pass resolutions opposing the proposal and to forward them to the Supreme Court, all High Courts and the Union Law Minister.

The letter is signed by HCBA President Rakesh Pande and Secretary Akhilesh Kumar Sharma.

The proposal for High Courts to sit on at least two Saturdays each month has gathered pace in recent months. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant also put forward a proposal on these lines.

However, the move has met resistance from several Bar associations, including those in Delhi and Kerala, who have warned it could place additional strain on the justice system.