Supreme Court introduces new ground rules to seek adjournments

Adjournments in Supreme Court Cases

Supreme Court introduces new ground rules to seek adjournments:-

• Adjournment - In general it refers to a pause or rest during a formal meeting or trial.
• The new guidelines:
  • Require lawyers to get the consent of the opposing side before circulating a request for an adjournment.
  • Prohibit two consecutive adjournments in a case.
  • Mandate that the party seeking an adjournment will not only have to list a specific reason for making the request but also indicate the total number of adjournments already sought in the case.

• No letters for adjournment shall be entertained:
  • In cases relating to bail/anticipatory bail
  • Where an exemption from surrendering has been granted
  • Where interim order is operating in favor of the party who seeks adjournment
  • Where suspension of sentence has been sought for

• In all other cases, the letter of adjournment will be entertained a day before the case list’s publication.

• When a matter does get adjourned, it will have to be listed before the court within the following four weeks and no request to mention the matter to seek to advance the given date will be permitted.