Either you argue or we will impose ₹1 lakh costs: Gujarat High Court to advocate seeking adjournment in 33-year-old case

In a rare instance, the Gujarat High Court today compelled an advocate to argue his case - a first appeal pending since last 33 years - while warning to impose costs of ₹1 lakh on him..A Division Bench of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Ashutosh J Shastri refused to adjourn the matter, citing the fact that the plea has been pending in the High Court for over 33 years now.It started with Advocate Aaditya Bhatt telling the Bench that he was appearing in the matter for the first time. He thus requested the Bench to adjourn the matter. "With folded hands, I would request you to please adjourn the case," the lawyer requested.In response, CJ Kumar said, "We are folding hands too. Please proceed with the matter."On Bhatt's insistence for an adjournment, a miffed CJ warned that he would impose costs. "This Court is very much liberal in granting adjournments, but in cases like the present one, which is pending for over 33 years, we won't adjourn it for a day. Either you argue or we will impose costs of ₹1 lakh," the Chief Justice said..The Court further warned that it would reject the appeal."If you still insist, we will reject your case. Then go to the Supreme Court and let them know what is happening here. A first appeal is pending since 33 years because advocates are not arguing the case. This won't give a good message to the society," CJ Kumar remarked.."If you want, you can curse us, but please argue," CJ Kumar quipped, to which Bhatt responded that he can never think of cursing the Court, but would only bless it."If you want to bless us, bless us by arguing the case," CJ Kumar insisted..Bhatt then informed the Bench that he does not have the case papers with him to argue. However, the Chief Justice gave him his own copy and asked him to argue the matter. The Bench granted him an hour's time to prepare his arguments after studying the papers in the courtroom itself. The Bench clarified that its concern was to dispose of all matters which are pending from the last 25 years and more. "I have requested all the judges of this Court to prioritise matters that are pending from 25 years and beyond. All of them are doing it so you tell me how can I not follow?" CJ Kumar explained..Notably, the Bench had last week said that it would prioritise all old matters, which are pending for the last 40 to 50 years..An hour later, Bhatt commenced his submissions after reading the papers in the courtroom itself.The case was a tender matter related to the construction of a bridge over a river in Patan district.After hearing him for some time, the Bench adjourned the hearing till Tuesday for further submissions.