'Litigants Force Adjournments, Then Sit On Social Media To Criticize Courts For Delays', Says Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court on Monday criticized the practice of litigants seeking adjournments in court proceedings and thereafter taking to social media to criticize courts over delays.

"This is the story of every other case, at least in the Courts of this State where litigants most unscrupulously force adjournments and in the next breath sit on the social media sites to criticize Courts about delays. Much of the delay, to the judicial process, are on account of the litigants who stand to gain by it", a bench of Justice JJ Munir and Justice Indrajeet Shukla observed.

The Court was hearing a First Appeal wherein the respondent failed to appear despite having been personally served and despite two counsels having entered appearance on her behalf.

Since no one appeared for the respondent when the matter was called, the Bench observed thus:

"To our mind, the appearance that has been put in on behalf of the respondent is a ploy to avoid the proceedings of the Court".

The Court then deprecated the practice by the litigants of seeking adjournments and later blaming courts for delays.

Calling it an old "practice or malpractice", the Court said that litigants who indulge in such conduct and then complain about delays were engaging in conduct that could potentially invite the Court's contempt jurisdiction.

The Bench remarked thus:

"This has been an old practice or malpractice, at least in the Courts of this State, but after indulging in this kind of malpractice, to cry foul about delays in Courts is a matter which really rightfully belongs to the area where our contempt jurisdiction may be invoked".

In view of this observation, the Court directed that the respondent be personally served and appear before the Court on August 14, 2026, at 2 pm.

The appeal was directed to be listed on the same date as the service report.

The Bench also directed the Registry to send written intimation to both lawyers who had filed their vakalatnama on July 24, 2026, requiring them to explain why one of them had failed to appear before the Court.

Last year too, the Allahabad High Court had said that the role of litigants in contributing to judicial delays is often overlooked.

Calling it a 'menace' that is 'neither spoken of nor condemned', Justice Munir had opined that this tendency was required to be 'discouraged firmly'.

The single judge had called it 'surprising' that despite widespread protests over court delays, litigants, when they appear in court, seek and enjoy adjournments that suit their cause.

"It is surprising that despite such widespread protest against delays in Courts, citizens of the country, in whatever position they are, when they appear in Court as litigants, love to seek time and enjoy adjournments that suits their cause. The contribution of the litigating public to delays in Court, which, in fact, is a menace, is neither spoken of nor condemned. In any case, this tendency has to be discouraged firmly", the Court had remarked.

Read more about what the Court had said: Litigating Public Enjoys Adjournments, Its Role In Court Delays A Menace Neither Spoken Of Nor Condemned: Allahabad HC