Delhi High Court rolls back decision to work on Saturdays; committee to re-examine

The Delhi High Court has deferred its earlier decision to declare the first and third Saturdays of every month as working days, following stiff opposition from the DHCBA. A committee will be constituted by the Chief Justice to re-examine the matter. This development marks a significant shift in the court's approach to Saturday sittings, which had been introduced to expedite case disposal.

The Delhi High Court has rolled back its decision to work on Saturdays, deferring the implementation of its earlier notification declaring the first and third Saturdays of every month as working days. This move comes after the DHCBA expressed strong opposition to the decision, citing logistical difficulties for lawyers. The issue of Saturday sittings has been a contentious one in the Delhi High Court, with both the Bar and Bench having different views on the matter.

The Delhi High Court had introduced an arrangement in October 2025 requiring each Bench to sit on one Saturday every month to expedite case disposal. However, this move was met with opposition from the DHCBA, which argued that it would create logistical difficulties for lawyers and that the Bar was not consulted before the decision was taken. A survey conducted by Bar & Bench in February 2026 reflected significant opposition within the legal community to the idea of working Saturdays.

The deferment of the decision is a significant development, indicating that the court may be willing to reconsider its approach to Saturday sittings. The constitution of a committee to re-examine the matter suggests that the court is taking a more nuanced view of the issue. However, it remains to be seen how this will impact the court's operations and whether it will lead to any changes in the way cases are disposed of.

The Delhi High Court's decision to defer its earlier notification on Saturday sittings marks a significant shift in its approach to the matter. Practitioners should watch closely as the committee constituted by the Chief Justice re-examines the issue and consider how this may impact their work. The outcome of this development will likely have far-reaching implications for the court's operations and the way cases are disposed of.