Economic Adviser's Criticism of Judicial Vacations Sparks Strong Response from Top Lawyer

New Delhi:

A fresh controversy has erupted after a prominent member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council criticized the judiciary. Sanjeev Sanyal's statement describing the judiciary as the "biggest hurdle" to India's vision of becoming Viksit Bharat has prompted a strong response from Vikas Singh, Senior Advocate and President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).

During his address at the Nyaya Nirmaan 2025 event organized by the General Counsels' Association of India, Sanyal specifically targeted the lengthy vacation periods in higher courts. The forum, which brought together ministers, judges, and industry leaders, focused on discussing the future framework of India's legal system.

Singh firmly dismissed Sanyal's remarks as "irresponsible" and "made in bad taste," suggesting they revealed a fundamental misunderstanding of judicial operations.

"Those who comment on higher court vacations completely lack understanding of how these institutions function. These vacation periods aren't meant for idleness or wasting court time. To properly comprehend the concept of judicial vacations, one must understand the intensive workload that judges and busy lawyers handle during normal operational periods," Singh explained.

He further emphasized that such comments demonstrate insensitivity toward the judiciary's functioning mechanisms.

Sanyal had additionally criticized legal terminology such as "prayer" and "My Lord," suggesting these archaic terms hindered the legal system from adopting a forward-looking approach. While Singh acknowledged that these phrases are indeed legacies of tradition and habitual usage that should eventually be eliminated, he defended their contextual significance.

This isn't Sanyal's first critique of judicial vacations. Last year, the economist generated controversy by advocating for urgent reforms regarding extended holiday periods in the judiciary.

It's worth noting that during Chief Justice DY Chandrachud's tenure, the Supreme Court introduced partial working days, effectively reframing what were previously designated as vacation periods.