Justice M Nagaprasanna of the Karnataka High Court raised concerns about lawyers submitting excessive memos for early case listings, with 7,500 received in 29 days. He urged advocates to maintain courtroom decorum and avoid overwhelming the system, emphasizing the need for professional conduct and responsible advocacy to improve judicial efficiency while managing the high volume of requests.
Karnataka: Justice M Nagaprasanna of the Karnataka High Court recently expressed concern over the increasing trend of lawyers submitting multiple memos or requests for urgent and early listing of cases. Highlighting the issue on December 10, the judge urged advocates to maintain courtroom decorum and refrain from overwhelming the system with repetitive requests.
A ‘mentioning memo’ is a formal written request made by lawyers to seek an early or out-of-turn listing of matters citing urgency. At the Karnataka High Court, advocates can make these requests either through a written memo submitted in court or via online means.
“Don’t give a collection of memos. I am telling you, if all of you speak at once, then I am not going to accept a single memo,” Justice Nagaprasanna said while addressing a packed courtroom. He revealed that 7,500 memos had been submitted in the last 29 days, out of which 5,300 matters had already been listed for hearing.
The judge’s remarks came in response to advocates gathering in his courtroom on the morning of December 10 to request early dates for their cases. When one lawyer mentioned moving a memo “29 times” without getting a listing, Justice Nagaprasanna emphasized that he was doing his best but was constrained by the sheer volume of requests.
“There are many advocates here who have given memos 20 times and yet their matters have not come. What can I do? I am also a human being. You cannot milk the cow until it bleeds,”
he remarked, urging advocates to respect the limitations of the judicial system.
Justice Nagaprasanna also appealed to the legal community to avoid speaking over each other in the courtroom and maintain professional conduct during proceedings. He reiterated that while efforts were being made to hear as many cases as possible, the burden on the judiciary required lawyers to exercise restraint and patience.
The judge’s observations underline the critical need for efficient case management and responsible advocacy in ensuring smoother judicial processes. Advocates are urged to collaborate with the court system rather than inundating it with repetitive requests.
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