We are friends with lawyers: SC declines plea on adjournment curbs

The Supreme Court declined to hear a plea seeking nationwide guidelines for time-bound case disposal and stricter regulation of adjournments. The bench suggested approaching bar bodies instead, humorously noting it did not wish to create friction with lawyers over the issue

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a plea seeking framing and implementation of guidelines for time-bound disposal of cases. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and V Mohana dismissed the plea filed by a lawyer, who had also sought laying down of uniform, structured and enforceable guidelines for regulation of adjournments in all courts across the country. The petitioner told the bench that the petition was seeking guidelines on unregulated adjournments of cases in the courts.

“You go to the Bar Council of India, State Bar Council, High Court Bar Associations and District Court Bar Associations,” the bench told the petitioner, who was appearing in person. “We don’t want to take enmity with the lawyers. We are friends with the lawyers,” the bench said in a lighter vein.

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The plea had also sought formulation and implementation of a uniform national case flow management policy applicable to all courts in the country incorporating stage-wise timelines for proceedings, regulation of adjournments, continuous and day-to-day hearing in appropriate matters and priority disposal of long-pending and old cases.