In a striking moment of human vulnerability within the often rigid corridors of Indian law, Justice Subhash Vidyarthi has drawn national attention for his honesty. After presiding over a marathon session that stretched nearly three hours past regular court hours, the judge officially recorded his physical exhaustion in a formal court order.
While it is common for judges to reserve judgments for later delivery, it is almost unheard of for an official record to cite hunger and physical incapacity as the primary reasons for doing so.
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The 180-Day Deadline: Meeting the Apex Court’s Mandate
The urgency of the late-evening hearing was driven by a ticking clock.
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The Directive: On August 25, 2025, the Supreme Court remanded the case back to the High Court with a request to decide it “preferably within six months.”
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The Expiry: That window expired on February 24, 2026. To ensure the High Court complied with the Supreme Court’s request, Justice Vidyarthi commenced the hearing at 4:15 PM—immediately after the regular court day ended.
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The Marathon: Arguments from senior advocates for both the petitioner and Canara Bank concluded only at 7:10 PM.
A Day in the Life: 235 Cases on One List
The judge’s exhaustion was the result of a massive daily “cause list” that highlights the ongoing crisis of judicial backlog in India.
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Total Matters: 235 cases (92 fresh, 101 regular, 39 misc. applications, and 3 unlisted).
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Regular Hours: During the standard 10 AM to 4 PM window, the bench was only able to reach serial number 29 of the fresh matters.
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Overtime: The Canara Bank case had to be taken up in addition to this massive load to satisfy the “Supreme Court expedited” status.
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Case History: The DRT and “Natural Justice” Dispute
The petition, filed by Chandralekha Singh, has seen a complex journey through the judicial hierarchy.
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DRT Order (2024): The Debts Recovery Tribunal passed an order that the borrower claimed was without a fair hearing.
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High Court Intervention (May 2025): Justice Pankaj Bhatia quashed the DRT order, citing “prima facie misconduct” and a lack of hearing.
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Supreme Court Revival (August 2025): The apex court set aside the quashing, noting that the High Court itself hadn’t given the bank a proper hearing—a “breach of natural justice.“
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Present State: The matter was sent back to be decided on its own merits, leading to the exhausted hearing before Justice Vidyarthi this week.
Reality Check
Judicial burnout is a documented phenomenon, but rarely admitted. Still, the Allahabad High Court remains one of the most overworked in the world. Therefore, while the judge’s admission is “unusual,” it is a factual reflection of the systemic pressure on the Indian judiciary. In fact, expecting a judge to dictate a complex 20-page judgment at 7:30 PM after 10 hours of hearing other cases is often a recipe for legal errors.
The Loopholes
The Supreme Court “requested” the High Court to decide within six months. In fact, this is a “Persuasive Loophole”—the word “preferably” means it isn’t a hard mandatory deadline, but High Court judges treat it as such out of institutional respect. Therefore, Justice Vidyarthi pushed himself to the limit to honor a timeline that was technically flexible. Still, the “Dictation Loophole”—reserving the order instead of dictating it—allows the judge to recover and write a more coherent verdict in chambers.
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What This Means for You
If you are a litigant in an expedited matter, prepare for late-evening sessions. First, realize that “expedited” cases often get pushed to the end of the day because the “fresh” daily list takes priority. Then, if your lawyer informs you that arguments are concluded but the order is “reserved,” understand that this is a standard procedure to ensure the judge can reflect on the evidence without the fatigue of the courtroom.
Finally, understand that judicial candor is increasing. You should see this as a positive sign of a more transparent judiciary that acknowledges human limitations. Before your next hearing, check the cause list online; if your case is after serial number 50, there is a high probability it will be adjourned or heard in overtime.
What’s Next
Justice Vidyarthi is expected to pronounce the judgment in the coming week now that the arguments are recorded. Then, look for a “Judicial Infrastructure” debate in the UP Assembly, as this incident has once again highlighted the need for more benches. Finally, the Supreme Court may issue new guidelines on how “expedited matters” should be handled to avoid placing undue physical strain on High Court judges.
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