Court alone decides whether to adjourn a case; adjournment slip not automatic pass: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Wednesday cautioned lawyers against treating adjournment slips as automatic passes for postponement of cases and emphasised that only the Court can decide whether a case should be deferred.

A Bench of Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice R Mahadevan made it clear that lawyers should always come prepared to argue the case notwithstanding the fact that an adjournment slip has been circulated.

This was after a lawyer submitted that since the respondents had moved an adjournment slip, the matter could not be taken up.

Justice Amanullah, however, made it clear that the decision to defer a case rested solely with the Court.

"Please counsel. It is upto us whether or not we allow adjournment. You have to come prepared and argue. If we allow only then adjourned. This is a message to the bar," he said.

When the petitioner's counsel then sought another date, the Bench initially indicated that it would take up the matter at the end of the day's board.

However, the counsel requested that it be listed on another day instead.

Responding to the submission, Justice Amanullah said,

"Today also is a day."

The Court eventually agreed to defer the matter and directed that it be listed next week.

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