[EXCLUSIVE] Urgent matters during Supreme Court winter vacation can be mentioned before Registrar; CJI will form bench if needed

Even as Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud observed today that there would be no benches available during the upcoming winter vacation, sources in the top court confirmed to Bar & Bench that urgent cases would get a hearing, if needed.

Sources said that there is a standard practice of a designated vacation registrar who is in charge of receiving mentioning of such cases. Upon the satisfaction of the vacation registrar, the Chief Justice of India is informed about the case and an urgent vacation bench is constituted if required.

"Supreme Court judges will be available for such benches throughout the vacation period," the source told Bar & Bench.

The Supreme Court is set to shut for two weeks starting December 19, with the Court reopening on January 2.

The remarks made by the CJI earlier today came at a time when Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju took a jibe at the judiciary for enjoying long court vacations.

“There is a feeling among people of India that the long vacation which the courts obtain is not very convenient for justice-seekers and it is my obligation and duty to convey the message or sense of this House to the judiciary," the Law Minister had said in Parliament on Thursday, as per The Indian Express.

The long vacations availed by courts have frequently come under criticism.

The Bombay High Court is even seized of a petition challenging such long court vacations.