| Comparative Analysis The Indian Supreme Court has the highest caseload among the apex courts around the world and also works the most. In terms of the number of judgments delivered too, with 34 judges, the Indian Supreme Court leads the way. The Supreme Court has delivered 1,255 judgments (Between January 1 to 16th December). By contrast, the US Supreme Court hears approximately 100-150 cases a year.In the UK, High Courts and Courts of Appeals sit for 185-190 days in a year. The Supreme Court sits in four sessions throughout the year, spanning roughly 250 days. |
The Supreme Court has 193 working days a year for its judicial functioning, while the High Courts function for approximately 210 days, and trial courts for 245 days.
- The Supreme Court breaks for its annual summer vacation which is typically for seven weeks — it starts at the end of May, and the court reopens in July.
- The court takes a week-long break each for Dussehra and Diwali, and two weeks at the end of December.
- While this judicial schedule has its origins in colonial practices, it has come under criticism for quite some time now.
- Generally, two or three judges, called “vacation benches”, hear important cases that cannot wait.
- Cases such as bail, eviction, etc. often find precedence in listing before vacation benches.
- For example, in 2015, a five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court heard the challenge to the constitutional amendment setting up the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) during the summer vacation.
Dig Deeper: Procedure for appointment of Judges in Supreme Court in India, USA and UK.
