Supreme Court Forms Committee for Lawyers' Adjournment SOP

• 30 Dec 2023

The Supreme Court has recently established a committee of judges to develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) for lawyers seeking adjournment in proceedings.

Key Points

• Panel Seeks Stakeholder Input: The committee has called for suggestions from the Bar and other stakeholders to address concerns related to the discontinuation of the circulation of adjournment slips.
• Circulars Prompt Bar Associations' Concerns: The Supreme Court Bar Association and the Supreme Court Advocate on Record Association expressed apprehension following circulars issued by the apex court, which announced the end of the practice of circulating adjournment slips.
• Supreme Court's Circulars on Adjournment Slips Discontinuation Directive on December 5: The court issued a circular on December 5, discontinuing the practice of circulating adjournment slips until December 15, 2023. Genuine difficulties could be addressed by making a request for adjournment before the concerned court.
• Follow-Up Circular on December 22: After concerns were raised, a follow-up circular on December 22 informed stakeholders that a committee of judges would be constituted to prepare an SOP. The circulation of adjournment slips remains discontinued until further orders.
• SCBA Urges Suggestions from Members: The Supreme Court Bar Association has urged its members to submit suggestions by January 2, 2024, specifically addressing legitimate grounds for seeking adjournments.
• Chief Justice's Call against Adjournments: Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud previously appealed to lawyers not to seek adjournments in new matters, emphasizing the need to avoid the court becoming a 'tarikh-pe-tarikh' court, as such delays erode citizens' trust.