CJI Surya Kant-led special vacation bench to sit on Sunday to hear urgent matters

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant will preside over a special vacation bench on Sunday, December 22, 2025, at 11 am , along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi, to hear urgent matters requiring immediate judicial intervention during the Supreme Court’s holiday period.

According to the cause list uploaded on the apex court’s website, the bench will take up 17 matters , including criminal and civil cases , which have been verified by the Supreme Court registry for their urgency. The special sitting has been arranged to ensure that pressing cases are considered in a timely manner without overburdening other judges who are on holiday or handling routine case preparations.

On Friday, CJI Kant confirmed his willingness to sit on the first day of the Christmas and New Year holidays to hear urgent matters. “We are not going to burden other Supreme Court judges, who have to study case files till late at night to hear new cases. I will not bother any other bench,” he said, adding that the registry would determine which cases qualify as urgent.

Junior lawyers mentioning urgent cases have been asked to argue their matters on December 22 . The CJI noted that the constitution of additional benches would depend on the number of cases listed.

The Supreme Court will remain closed for holidays from December 22, 2025, to January 2, 2026 . The special vacation bench ensures that critical matters receive judicial attention even as the Court prepares for its annual break.