The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday firmly criticized a lawyer for requesting an adjournment in a commercial dispute on the sole basis that senior advocate Harish Salve, who was abroad, would argue the case upon his return.
A Bench comprising of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan strongly objected to this reasoning, asserting that the availability of a senior counsel is not a legitimate basis for delaying proceedings.
The court firmly stated, “Are you under an impression that we will adjourn a matter if you take the name of a senior counsel? This tendency of the lawyers at the bar must stop. We are not going to adjourn matters just because you take the name of any senior counsel.”
Although the court initially rejected the request, it later allowed the adjournment while making it clear that such justifications should not set a precedent. The Bench underscored the need for judicial efficiency and cautioned against the misuse of adjournment requests.
This ruling follows a prior incident in January when the top court rebuked a lawyer for addressing the Bench from inside a vehicle, reinforcing the need for professionalism and decorum in legal proceedings.
By taking a firm stance on this issue, the Supreme Court aims to curb the increasing tendency among legal practitioners to seek adjournments for non-essential reasons. The decision reflects the judiciary’s broader commitment to procedural discipline and the expeditious resolution of legal matters.
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