Supreme Court revises summer vacation schedule to boost case disposal

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has announced a revised summer vacation schedule for 2026 under which judges will spend more time hearing cases at the principal seat in Islamabad in an effort to improve judicial efficiency and reduce the case backlog.

According to an official announcement issued on Tuesday, the new arrangement was finalised after the judges of the Supreme Court, at the request of the Chief Justice of Pakistan and following mutual consultations, voluntarily agreed to maximise their sitting period at the principal seat during the summer recess.

The court said the move was aimed at enhancing judicial productivity and accelerating the disposal of pending cases while ensuring greater availability of judges during the vacation period.

Under the revised arrangement, judges will reduce the time, if any, spent sitting at branch registries during the summer break. However, the actual vacation period availed by judges will remain unchanged at four weeks, consistent with previous years.

The Supreme Court said the new schedule would help ensure uninterrupted hearings and disposal of cases during the summer months.

The court said the arrangement reflected a collective commitment by the judiciary to make better use of institutional resources, improve court performance and strengthen access to timely and effective justice for litigants.