SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Dr. D.Y. Chandrachud, Surya Kant, Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha, JJ.
Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Varanasi – Appellant
Versus
Rakhi Singh & Ors. – Respondents
Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 9388 of 2022
Decided On : 19-05-2022
ADJOURNMENT - Civil Procedure - Article 136 of the Constitution - None
Fact of the Case:
The counsel for the original plaintiffs requested an adjournment due to personal indisposition, which was not objected to by the opposing counsel. The Trial Court was directed to refrain from further proceedings until the matter was taken up the next day.
Finding of the Court:
The Court granted the adjournment and directed the Trial Court to refrain from further proceedings until the next day.
Issues: Adjournment request due to counsel's indisposition
Ratio Decidendi: The Court has the discretion to grant adjournments, especially in cases of counsel's indisposition, and can direct the Trial Court accordingly.
Final Decision: The Trial Court was directed to strictly act in accordance with the arrangement and to refrain from taking up further proceedings until the matter was taken up the next day.
ORDER
1. The proceedings have been mentioned by Mr Vishnu Shankar Jain, learned counsel, who appears on behalf of the original plaintiffs, namely, the first to fifth respondents in the proceedings before this Court under Article 136 of the Constitution.
2. Mr Jain states that the learned counsel who has been briefed to appear in these proceedings is indisposed today and, hence, is unable to remain present. He has requested the Court to take up the matter tomorrow.
3. Mr Huzefa A Ahmadi, learned senior counsel, states that there is no objection to the grant of adjournment on account of the personal indisposition of counsel, however, equally, it is necessary that the Trial Court which is continuing to hear the proceedings today may desist from doing so until this Court takes up the proceedings tomorrow.
4. Responding to the above submission, Mr Jain states that the proceedings before the Trial Court shall not be pressed any further hereafter until the Court takes up the matter tomorrow.
5. We accordingly direct the Trial Court to strictly act in terms of the above arrangement and to desist from taking up further proceedings in the suit in view of the consensus which has been arrived at between the parties.
6. List the proceedings tomorrow at 3 pm before this Bench. The Registry may seek the administrative directions of the Hon'ble Chief Justice of India so that the Bench may be constituted.
The Court has the discretion to grant adjournments and direct the Trial Court accordingly, especially in cases of counsel's indisposition.
Courts may grant adjournments in exceptional circumstances, such as medical reasons, but may also set limits on future adjournments.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the limitation on seeking adjournments, especially on the ground of illness of the lawyer, and the need for expeditious disposal of cases.
The right to a fair trial necessitates adequate legal representation; refusal to grant adjournment undermines this right, potentially resulting in miscarriage of justice.
Repeated adjournments aimed at delaying proceedings are unacceptable, emphasizing the need for timely resolutions in execution of decree.
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