New Delhi, March 5: For the first time, the Supreme Court will have a vacation bench during the upcoming one week Holi break to hear urgent matters. Till now, vacation bench of the apex court sits during the nearly six-week long summer break in May and June. Chief Justice S A Bobde said on Thursday that the vacation bench will not sit on the day of Holi but during the other days of the week.

The CJI made the statement after advocate Nitya Ramakrishna mentioned for urgent hearing a matter relating to anticipatory bail in a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Supreme Court Hears Pleas Against Article 370 Repeal, Gives Centre 4 Weeks to Respond, Declines to Stay Jammu & Kashmir's Bifurcation.

Ramakrishna said there was urgency in the matter as the court is scheduled to go on break for Holi from March 9 and the high court has granted protection to the accused only till March 13.

To this, CJI Bobde said that a vacation bench will be constituted for the Holi break, for urgent and "death penalty related cases" that may need to be heard.

The apex court will go on Holi vacation of one week from March 9 to 13.