Offices of the Court: Sittings, Registry Hours and Holidays
Order II regulates the working hours of the Supreme Court Registry, its functioning on Saturdays and during partial Court working days, the annual terms of the Court, notified holidays and arrangements for urgent hearings. These rules operate under Article 145 of the Constitution of India, which empowers the Supreme Court, with the approval of the President, to frame rules governing its practice and procedure.
Order II: Rule-by-rule explanation
Rule 1 - Regular Registry hours
Subject to any order of the Chief Justice, except during partial Court working days and on Saturdays and holidays, the offices of the Court are open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Work other than urgent work is not admitted after 4:30 p.m.
Rule 2 - Saturday hours
Except during partial Court working days, the offices of the Court are open on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Work other than urgent work is not admitted after 12 noon.
Rule 3 - Partial Court working days and holidays
Except on days declared holidays both for the Court and its offices, the offices remain open during partial Court working days and Christmas and New Year holidays at such times as the Chief Justice may direct.
Rule 4 - Terms and vacation
The Court sits in two terms: one from the end of the summer vacation until the commencement of the Christmas and New Year holidays, and the second from the end of those holidays until the commencement of the summer vacation. Under the original Rule 4, the summer vacation may not exceed seven weeks and the annual vacation and holidays are fixed and notified by the Chief Justice, subject to the limits specified in the rule. The terminology and scheduling of partial Court working days must also be read with subsequent amendments and the current annual calendar.
Rule 5 - Court holidays
The Court does not ordinarily sit on Saturdays or on days notified as Court holidays in the Official Gazette.
Rule 6 - Urgent matters during recess
The Chief Justice may designate one or more Judges to hear urgent matters during vacation or holidays where a single Judge may hear the matter, and may constitute a Division Court where a Bench is required.
Practical points for filing and hearings
The Registry's office hours are different from the hours during which a Bench hears cases. Filing deadlines, urgent mentioning, online filing facilities and holiday arrangements should be checked against the Supreme Court's latest notices and calendar. The 4:30 p.m. and Saturday noon cut-offs in Rules 1 and 2 concern admission of non-urgent work at the offices and should not be treated as a universal electronic filing deadline.
The annual calendar and any special administrative directions of the Chief Justice govern actual working days and exceptions. For the meaning of the Registry's responsibilities, also see Order III - Officers of the Court.
Official Supreme Court references
Consult the Supreme Court Rules and amendment notifications, the Gazette notification of 14 June 2025 (G.S.R. 385(E)), and the Registry notice dated 16 June 2025. For current daily directions, visit the official Supreme Court website.
Updated: 5 October 2026. This article explains the Rules and does not replace applicable Gazette amendments, official notices or orders.