Overview The Supreme Court on 17 March 2026 dismissed a petition that sought a uniform policy for declaring public holidays and, in particular, a national holiday for the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh . The petition was filed by the All India Shiromani Singh Sabha in 2020. Key Developments The bench, comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta , refused to entertain the plea, stating that India already has “a holy land of holidays”. The petitioner, represented by Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, asked the Court to direct the Union Government and State Governments to frame a uniform, legislation‑based policy for holiday declaration. The Court reiterated that the power to declare holidays rests with the executive through executive instruction , not the judiciary. The petition highlighted that countries like New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States regulate holidays through legislation, contrasting India’s ad‑hoc approach. Important Facts • The petition (W.P.(C) No. 1474/2020) alleged that the absence of a statutory framework leads to “whims and fancies” of political and community groups in holiday decisions. • The petitioner argued that the birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh Guru, an important historic figure, remains a non‑gazetted day despite its cultural significance. • In 2021, the Court had issued notice to the Union and State governments, but no substantive guidelines were issued thereafter. UPSC Relevance Understanding the demarcation of powers between the judiciary and the executive is essential for GS‑2 (Polity) . The case illustrates: Judicial restraint in matters of policy formulation, reinforcing the principle of separation of powers. The role of writ petitions as a tool for civil society to seek judicial intervention. The importance of legislative backing for administrative actions, a recurring theme in governance questions. Way Forward While the Court declined to prescribe a statutory holiday policy, the issue raises the need for: Parliamentary debate on enacting a comprehensive Public Holidays Act that sets transparent criteria for national and gazetted holidays. Consultative mechanisms involving religious and cultural bodies to ensure inclusive representation without compromising the executive’s discretion. Periodic review of existing holidays to balance cultural diversity with economic productivity, a topic often examined in GS‑3 (Economy) and GS‑4 (Ethics) papers. For aspirants, tracking such judicial pronouncements helps in answering questions on federal‑state relations, executive powers, and the role of the judiciary in policy matters.