Supreme Court Declares Sept 11 Holiday for BRICS Summit, Nov 28 Working Day

The Supreme Court of India and its Registry will remain closed on Friday, September 11, 2026, in light of the 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit being hosted in New Delhi from September 11 to 13, 2026. This administrative decision, confirmed by a circular from the Supreme Court's Administrative General Branch, designates Saturday, November 28, 2026, as a full working day to compensate for the holiday, ensuring the court's annual working days remain consistent. The Supreme Court's declaration follows an Office Memorandum issued on September 3, 2026, by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoP&T) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. This memorandum directed the closure of Central Government offices located in Delhi due to the high-profile international event and the extensive security and logistical arrangements required for visiting dignitaries. It is crucial to note that the September 11, 2026, holiday is specifically for the Supreme Court and its Registry, not a nationwide public holiday. The Supreme Court Registry will also observe a holiday on Saturday, September 12, 2026, effectively creating a three-day break for the apex court's administrative functions when combined with Sunday, September 13. Beyond the Supreme Court, the Delhi High Court has also issued a notification declaring September 11, 2026, a holiday for itself and all courts subordinate to it. Furthermore, subordinate courts in Delhi will also remain closed on September 12, 2026 (which is the second Saturday of the month, often a non-working day for some courts but explicitly declared holiday here). To make up for these closures, the Delhi High Court has declared Saturday, October 3, 2026, as a court sitting day, and October 10 and November 14, 2026, as court sitting days for subordinate courts. Cases listed before these courts on the affected dates will be taken up on Monday, September 14, 2026, in addition to previously scheduled matters. The National Lok Adalat, originally scheduled for September 12, has also been postponed to October 10, 2026. The 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit, hosted by India, brings together the heads of state or government of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, alongside other newly expanded member nations and partner countries. The summit, scheduled from September 11 to 13, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, aims to foster cooperation in critical areas such as food and energy security, health, disaster resilience, and critical supply chains. This marks India's fourth BRICS chairship, having previously held the position in 2012, 2016, and 2021. The BRICS grouping has seen significant expansion in recent years. In 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia joined as new members, followed by Indonesia in 2025. Additionally, Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam became BRICS partner countries in 2025. The bloc now comprises 11 member countries, representing a substantial portion of the world's population, global GDP, and trade. The administrative closures extend beyond the judiciary. The Delhi Government has also announced that all schools—government, government-aided, and private—will remain closed on September 11, 2026, in compliance with directives for government offices. While central government offices in Delhi will observe the holiday, banks in New Delhi are expected to remain open on September 11, as the RBI's holiday calendar does not list it as a bank holiday. However, citizens and commuters in Delhi are advised to anticipate significant traffic restrictions and diversions from September 11 to 13 due to VVIP movement and enhanced security arrangements associated with the summit.

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