NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India TS Thakur has appealed to all the high court judges to utilise the summer vacation to clear the backlog.He has shot off a letter to all the chief justices urging them to consult their respective HC judges to use “at least” a part of their vacation to decide old matters, especially wherein people are languishing behind bars. The letter was shot off within a week after the conclusion of the annual Chief Justices’ Conference in April, where the CJI broke down in front of PM Modi underlining the need for appointing more judges to clear the backlog. The letter was sent after an initiative to work in a “Mission Mode” was taken up by then Allahabad HC chief justice DY Chandrachud Five days after the conference , Chandrachud consulted his judges and voluntarily decided to work during summer vacations to clear the oldest criminal appeals in UP. He had informed the CJI about the initiative. Appreciating the effort, Thakur wrote back to Chandrachud.Last month, the CJI wrote a letter — annexing Chandrachud’s letter and his appreciation — to all the chief justices of high courts. The CJI asked them to emulate the “Mission Mode” and persuade their “brother judges” to use “at-least a part” of the vacation to take up old matters. The CJI suggested that Bar lawyers should also be consulted.Sources said HC judges have responded positively to the CJI proposal. ET spoke to a number of HC judges, including two chief justices, and learnt that informal meetings were held by the chief justices with their HC judges and lawyers to obtain their consent.