We Must Send Message To Bar That Matters Will Not Be Adjourned For Nothing: Supreme Court

The remark came when a civil SLP, an 'after notice' matter in which notice was issued back in 2017 came up for hearing before the bench, also comprising Justice M. R. Shah, and the AOR for the petitioner-company sought an adjournment.

"I have come after reading. My learned brother has come after reading. In fact, I had kept back the matter to read. Since it was going to go on today, I read it early morning", remarked Justice Chandrachud.

The AOR for the petitioner urged that he does not even have a copy of the SLP and prayed that the case be adjourned by one day.

"You have filed the vakalatnamah. That is your problem", reprimanded Justice Shah.

"Notice was issued in 2017. Please take a copy from (the advocate for the respondent) and begin your arguments. Otherwise, as unpleasant it may be, we will have to dismiss the matter for want of prosecution", commented Justice Chandrachud.

'We must send a message to the bar that we will not adjourn matters for nothing. It is not fair to us...once we have accommodated the matter, it must be heard...there are times when a matter does not reach. Look at the time we are spending on adjournment talk", continued Justice Chandrachud.

Incidentally, the counsel for the respondents also prayed for an adjournment, citing the fact that he has recently undergone surgery as the reason. "We are not monsters. You have undergone surgery. You please relax. We will listen to him (the advocate for the petitioner)", said Justice Chandrachud.

The bench asked the said advocate to be prepared to argue immediately after the successive item is over.

Even last month, the same bench had remarked that a mere circulation of a letter by a party is not a guarantee that an adjournment will be granted. "We spend time in reading the briefs...any reason (is given) to not take up matters in the Supreme Court", Justice Chandrachud had commented. "If the matter reaches, it will be taken up. If we decide not to adjourn it, then all the best", Justice Shah had said.