Supreme Court Declares August 27 Holiday; August 22 To Be Working Day Instead.

The Supreme Court of India has announced a change to its working calendar, declaring Thursday, August 27, 2026, a holiday for the Court and its Registry. The decision was taken following a request from the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) and was subsequently approved by the Full Court.

In lieu of the holiday, Saturday, August 22, 2026, will be observed as a full working day for the Supreme Court and its Registry. The Registry will remain operational until 5 pm on that day.

Why Has August 27 Been Declared a Holiday?

The additional holiday comes between two holidays already listed in the Supreme Court's 2026 calendar. August 26 is a holiday on account of Milad-un-Nabi, while August 28 is observed as a holiday for Raksha Bandhan.

The request to declare August 27 a holiday was made by SCAORA. After considering the request, the Full Court approved the proposal, leading to the revised schedule. The Court subsequently issued a circular through its Administrative General Branch on August 14.

August 22 To Be a Full Working Saturday

While August 27 will provide an additional day off, the Court has made a corresponding adjustment to its schedule. August 22, which falls on a Saturday, has been designated as a full working day.

The arrangement ensures that the additional holiday does not result in a reduction in the Court's scheduled working days. The Registry will function until 5 pm on August 22, allowing regular administrative and filing-related work to continue throughout the day.

What Does the Revised Schedule Mean?

The change effectively creates a three-day holiday stretch from August 26 to August 28, with the Court remaining closed on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

However, legal professionals and Registry staff will have to compensate for the additional holiday by working on the preceding Saturday, August 22.

The Supreme Court's official 2026 calendar already lists August 26 and August 28 as holidays, making the newly declared August 27 holiday an additional day inserted between the two existing holidays.

What Lawyers and Litigants Should Know

Lawyers, litigants and other stakeholders dealing with matters before the Supreme Court will need to take note of the revised schedule and plan filings and other court-related work accordingly.

Since August 22 will be a full working day, the Registry will remain available for regular work until 5 pm. Conversely, the Court and Registry will observe the holiday on August 27.

The revised arrangement highlights the Court's administrative flexibility in accommodating the request of the legal fraternity while maintaining its overall working schedule.

The Supreme Court's decision is therefore particularly relevant for advocates-on-record, law firms, litigants and Registry officials, all of whom will need to factor the revised dates into their calendars and case-related planning.

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