In response to widespread misconceptions, Justice Prathiba M Singh from the Delhi High Court clarified that judges in India dedicate 14 to 15 hours daily to their responsibilities. Speaking at a LAWASIA-organized discussion on the potential elimination of court vacations to address case backlogs, Justice Singh highlighted the challenges judges face in maintaining a work-life balance.
During the session, Justice Singh debunked the perception that judges have a relaxed schedule, emphasizing that they engage in pre-court work, courtroom proceedings, administrative tasks, and case preparation, totaling extensive daily commitments.
“There is this perception that judges work from 10:30 to 4:30 and then play golf. We work two hours before coming to court. Then sit in court till 4:30. Then do administrative work for an hour before finalising orders and then read tomorrow’s briefs. Let me tell you, judges in India work for 14 to 15 hours a day. We find it very difficult to maintain work-life balance,” explained Justice Singh.
She also noted that the burden of such demanding work extends beyond judges to their families, who make significant sacrifices. Other judges and advocates from various countries in the discussion agreed with Justice Singh’s observations, acknowledging the inherent challenge of balancing professional and personal life.
The discussion covered several themes, including accessibility of court judgments, judges’ experiences with politically sensitive cases, the role of women in the legal profession, and the impact of technology on court processes.
During the Q&A session, Justice Singh addressed challenges faced by women lawyers in India, highlighting constraints in assertiveness that may lead to labeling as “cantankerous.” Despite these challenges, she noted a positive trend of increasing women joining the legal profession.
