The Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association (SCAORA) has requested revised guidelines for adjournment letters from Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna. Citing procedural delays and operational inefficiencies due to recent modifications, SCAORA seeks formalization of acceptable circumstances for adjournments, aiming to enhance judicial efficiency and respect advocates’ logistical realities in India’s legal system.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association (SCAORA) has appealed to Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, for the establishment of revised guidelines for the circulation of adjournment letters. The request, made by SCAORA secretary Nikhil Jain on December 5, seeks a more systematic and efficient approach to manage adjournment notifications, aiming to reduce procedural delays and streamline court operations.
Historically, the circulation of adjournment letters has been a practical tool for managing court dockets. By notifying judges in advance about cases unlikely to proceed as scheduled, the system alleviated workloads, particularly in instances of lawyers facing personal emergencies or professional conflicts.
However, this practice was temporarily suspended last December, followed by a partially modified system introduced in February. The modified approach limited adjournment letters to specific case categories and restricted their use to just once, causing operational inefficiencies. This prompted SCAORA to push for reconsideration of the current policy.
In their appeal, SCAORA outlined situations where adjournment letters should be permissible:
- Medical emergencies impacting the Advocate on Record or key stakeholders in the case.
- Need for additional time to complete pleadings, such as counter-affidavits and rejoinders.
- Personal obligations requiring the Advocate on Record to be out of station.
- Change in representation, where new Advocates on Record need time for pleadings and instructions.
The association emphasizes that formalizing these guidelines could prevent judicial time from being wasted on cases bound for adjournment, thereby conserving resources and reducing financial burdens on litigants caused by procedural delays.
SCAORA’s renewed push comes in the wake of Chief Justice Khanna’s earlier reluctance to reinstate the traditional letter circulation system. The association seeks a balanced approach that ensures judicial efficiency while accommodating the logistical realities faced by advocates.
By addressing operational challenges, these revised guidelines could mark a pivotal step in enhancing the effectiveness of court proceedings. SCAORA’s appeal underscores the importance of maintaining a system that respects the needs of the judiciary and the advocates, fostering smoother case management.
The call for action reflects the collective effort to modernize judicial processes while maintaining fairness and efficiency in India’s legal system.
Read the Letter here:
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