Extended Eidul Azha holidays and energy conservation program cause 10-day disruption in district court proceedings, affecting bail petitions and routine judicial business.
The recent Eidul Azha holiday period, combined with the government's energy conservation program, has significantly disrupted judicial proceedings in the district's subordinate courts. The prolonged break, which lasted for 10 consecutive days, included nine official holidays and one additional day with negligible attendance at government offices. This extended closure severely impacted routine judicial business across the district judiciary.
A large number of bail petitions, particularly those filed on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, remained pending and could not be taken up for hearing due to the extended court closure. Many accused persons who had filed these petitions before Eidul Azha were left waiting for a hearing, which could not take place due to the limited or suspended court activity. The energy conservation program, which aimed to reduce energy consumption, observed public holidays on May 22, 23, and 24, ahead of Eidul Azha.
The final working day before Eid, May 25, saw exceptionally low attendance at government offices and the District Courts complex. Many officials and support staff either treated the day as an unofficial holiday or left their offices early, leaving large sections of the district courts virtually deserted by late morning. This was followed by the three Eidul Azha holidays, which were observed from May 26 to May 28. Upon the conclusion of Eid, another three-day closure under the energy conservation schedule commenced from May 29 to May 31.
As a result of the prolonged court closure, regular hearings in sessions, civil, family, magistrates', and special courts could not be conducted. The disruption has caused significant delays in the disposal of cases, and the backlog of pending cases is likely to increase. The district judiciary will need to work diligently to clear the backlog and ensure that justice is delivered in a timely manner. The extended court closure has highlighted the need for a more efficient and effective system to manage court proceedings, particularly during holiday periods.
