Calcutta High Court Imposes ₹25K Cost On Party For Seeking Repeated Adjournments

The Calcutta High Court on Friday imposed costs to the tune of Rs 25,000 on a party for seeking repeated adjournments. 

A Bench of Justices Moushumi Bhattacharya and Kesang Doma Bhutia noted that the appellants had sought several adjournments. But despite the accommodating orders the Court had passed, they again sought an adjournment for the fourth time.

"This is the fourth occasion when adjournment has been sought for by the appellants. We have passed several orders from 18.04.2022 to accommodate the appellants. At the time of third call today, adjournment is again sought for on behalf of the appellants. Since today is the last date of the Circuit bench, we are unable to keep the matter after recess owing to our respective Single Bench lists," the Court observed. 

Accordingly, the Bench imposed costs and ordered the appellants to pay Rs 25,000 to the District Legal Services Authorities, Jalpaiguri within a period of seven days.

"We are of the view that this is the fit case where costs should accordingly be imposed on the appellants. The appellants shall pay costs of Rs.25,000/- to the District Legal Services Authorities, Jalpaiguri within seven days from today," the order read. 

The practice of seeking frequent adjournments of cases has been criticised by by several judges and courts.

It may be noted that back in September 2021, the Supreme Court had urged the courts not to grant repeated adjournments in routine manner. "Time has now come to change the work culture and get out of the adjournment culture so that confidence and trust put by the litigants in the Justice delivery system is not shaken and Rule of Law is maintained",  a Bench comprising Justice MR Shah and AS Bopanna had observed.

Case Title: Bengal State Table Tennis Association & Ors. v Malda District Table Tennis Association & Ors

Case Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (Cal) 141

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