Unfortunate Culture Of Adjournments: Delhi High Court Expresses Hope That The Culture Will Change Over Time

An application was filed by petitioner who had sought waiver of costs amounting to ₹20,000 imposed earlier by a coordinate bench. The cost had been levied due to non-appearance of his counsel on a previous date of hearing.

A Bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said, “Unfortunate, there is a culture of adjournments, which has developed over a period of time in the Courts and misplaced and expectation has emerged that whatever be the matter, the adjournments shall be granted at the asking. The adjournments have been sought indiscriminately, with no regard to the other Counsel or to the time of the Court.”

Advocate Sudershani Ray appeared for the Petitioner.

In support of the waiver application, the applicant submitted that his counsel was unable to appear before the High Court because she was engaged in a time-bound matter before the Tis Hazari Courts. It was further argued that the counsel was a single mother with two children and faced multiple personal hardships, and therefore the cost imposed should be set aside.

The Court clarified that the reason cited was, in fact, a professional engagement in another matter, not a personal exigency. The Court added, “The Counsel is trying to justify her absence by alleging it was a personal difficulty when in fact, it was a professional involvement in another case. It is not the personal difficulty as is being vehemently argued by the learned Counsel. Though, this is most least appreciated and it is hoped that this culture of seeking adjournments would change over a period of time, the cost of Rs.20,000/- is waived. ”

Cause Title: Dheeraj Arora v. Pariney Khanna

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