SCAORA Urges CJI Sanjiv Khanna To Issue Revised Guidelines For Circulation Of Adjournment Letters

The Supreme Court Advocates On Record Association (SCAORA) today (December 5) wrote to CJI Sanjiv Khanna, requesting to formulate revised guidelines for circulation of adjournment letters by the AoRs. In the letter, the Hony. Secretary of SCAORA, Nikhil Jain has urged the CJI to issue revised guidelines for circulating adjournment letters in the Court. The SCAORA stressed that the earlier practise of allowing the circulation of adjournment letters aided in efficient functioning of the bench and the bar as it cut down on the burden on judges to read matters for which the counsels sought adjournments. The practise also helped accommodate the matters when the concerned advocates were faced with personal inconveniences or had to balance out other professional obligations. The issuance of guidelines, SCAORA stated, would help advocates promptly inform the Court about the adjournments in a more organised manner. "Issuing certain guidelines for the circulation of adjournment letters would enable advocates to promptly inform the Court in advance about any such circumstance, ensuring that cases are rescheduled in a timely manner and reducing the risk of adjournments that could disrupt the Court's schedule. Furthermore, such guidelines would allow the Court to manage its docket more efficiently and avoid inconveniencing other parties involved in the proceedings.""As members of the Association, individually and collectively, we understand the importance of maintaining the integrity of the Court's functioning." The letter has been issued subsequent to CJI's earlier remarks that the old system of seeking adjournments by circulation of letters will not be reinstated. The SCAORA has also suggested the following categories under which adjournment letters could be considered: "(i) Medical Exigencies.(ii) Seeking time for completion of pleadings (Counter Affidavits/Rejoinders etc).(iii) The Advocate on Record is unavailable at the station/Delhi due to personal exigencies.(iv) Change in Advocate on Record and for collation of pleadings and/or Instructions, etc.In light thereof, we humbly request your consideration in notifying certain guidelines and categories, wherein letters for adjournments can be circulated. These guidelines would ensure that the Hon'ble Judges do not spend time reading files for matters wherein otherwise adjournment may be sought the next day, due to unavoidable circumstances, the litigants don't suffer financially, and the members of the Association can continue to function with the utmost diligence."In December last year, the Supreme Court had temporarily prohibited the seeking of adjournments through letter circulation. Later, in February this year, the Court notified a new procedure for letter circulation, as per which, letters for adjournment will not be entertained in certain categories of cases, and also fresh and regular hearing matters. As per the new protocol, the adjournment letters can only be circulated once.After Justice Khanna became the CJI, members of the bar requested him to allow the circulation of letters of adjournment. The CJI clarified that the request has not been approved. Click here to read the letter

SCAORA Urges CJI Sanjiv Khanna To Issue Revised Guidelines For Circulation Of Adjournment Letters

Anmol Kaur Bawa

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