365 working days: ‘Judges not supermen’
CJI expressed his disapproval of making courts function all round the year
New Delhi: Judges are not “supermen” and they also require some rest, was how a former Supreme Court judge expressed his disapproval to Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha’s suggestion of making courts function all round the year.
“The Chief Justice of India has said that courts should remain open 365 days in a year. How is this possible? Does a judge not require some rest ? Is he not a human being with a family to look after?” Justice Markandey Katju, chairman of the Press Council of India (PCI), wrote in his blog.
Questioning the proposal, he said there are various stake holders and it should be left to the public to consider the situation under which the judiciary functions. “It is true that while many Judges work hard, others do not. But even a hard working Judge requires some rest and has a family. Similarly, lawyers and registry officials, too have families to look after and, being human beings, need some rest. I am not holding a brief for judges who do not work hard. All I am requesting is for the public to consider the situation,” Justice Katju said.