'Unfortunate': Delhi High Court Laments Culture Of Indiscriminate Adjournments, Hopes For Change In Future
Calling the trend “unfortunate”, the Delhi High Court has observed that a culture of seeking adjournments has developed over a period of time, leading to a misplaced expectation that such requests would be granted as a matter of course.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said that it is hoped that such culture of seeking adjournments would change over a period of time.
“Unfortunate, there is a culture of adjournments, which has developed over a period of time in the Courts and misplaced and expectation has emerged that whatever be the matter, the adjournments shall be granted at the asking,” the Court said.
It noted that adjournments have been sought indiscriminately, with no regard to the other counsel or to the time of the Court.
The judge made the observations while dealing with an application filed by one Dheeraj Arora, seeking waiver of cost of Rs. 20,000 imposed on him by a coordinate bench.
It was his case that his counsel was busy in a matter in Tis Hazari Courts which was time bound by the Co-ordinate Bench for which reason she was unable to appear before the High Court.
He said that the lawyer was a single lady with two children and had multiple difficulties in her life and therefore, the cost be waived.
Justice Krishna noted that the said lawyer tried to justify her absence by alleging it was a personal difficulty when in fact, it was a professional involvement in another case.
“It is not the personal difficulty as is being vehemently argued by the learned Counsel. Though, this is most least appreciated and it is hoped that this culture of seeking adjournments would change over a period of time, the cost of Rs.20,000/- is waived,” the Court said.
Counsel for Petitioner: Ms. Sudershani Ray, Advocate with Petitioner in person
Title: DHEERAJ ARORA v. PARINEY KHANNA