The Delhi High Court recently made it clear that requests for the adjournment of case hearings through adjournment slips will not be accepted by court officers unless they disclose reasons for seeking the adjournment [Lava International Ltd Vs Dolby International Ab & Anr.].

The Court issued the warning after Dolby International sought the adjournment of a case to which it is a party on the ground that its counsel was traveling.

However, the Court was surprised to note that no such reason was stated in the adjournment slip (the formal written request for the adjournment).

“We are surprised to note that in the format of the adjournment slips which have to be filled in by counsel who seek adjournment, there is no column requiring the reason for adjournment to be specified. We find this to be unacceptable,” the Court stated. 

The Division Bench of Justice C Hari Shankar and Justice Om Prakash Shukla, therefore, has now directed that the adjournment slips that do not specify the reasons for seeking adjournment would not be accepted.

“Adjournment slips which do not cite the reasons for adjournment would not be accepted by the Court Masters,” the Court's November 6 order said. 

The Court was also not inclined to allow Dolby's request for adjournment. However, as a “matter of indulgence”, the Court eventually agreed to re-notify the case hearing on another date. 

The Court further directed the Registry to issue a fresh adjournment slip pro forma with a separate column for citing reasons for seeking adjournments.

“The Registry is directed, therefore, to ensure that a fresh adjournment slip proforma is uploaded on the Delhi High Court website, in which a separate column setting out the reasons for adjournment is specifically included,” the Court directed. 

Advocates Ashok K Aggarwal, Gaurika Sood and Nirmit Jadwani appeared for Lava.

Advocates Mohd Affan, Devanshu Khanna, Swarnil Dey and Yagya Passi appeared for Dolby.

[Read order]