Calcutta High Court imposes ₹25,000 costs on party for seeking repeated adjournments

The Calcutta High Court on Friday imposed costs of ₹25,000 on a party for seeking repeated adjournments [Bengal State Table Tennis Association & Ors. v Malda District Table Tennis Association & Ors.]..A Bench of Justices Moushumi Bhattacharya and Kesang Doma Bhutia noted that the appellants had sought several adjournments. But despite the accommodating orders the Court had passed, they again sought an adjournment for the fourth time. "This is the fourth occasion when adjournment has been sought for by the appellants. We have passed several orders from 18.04.2022 to accommodate the appellants. At the time of third call today, adjournment is again sought for on behalf of the appellants. Since today is the last date of the Circuit bench, we are unable to keep the matter after recess owing to our respective Single Bench lists," the Court noted in its order..The Bench deemed it fit to impose costs and ordered the appellants to pay ₹25,000 to the District Legal Services Authorities, Jalpaiguri within a period of seven days."We are of the view that this is the fit case where costs should accordingly be imposed on the appellants. The appellants shall pay costs of Rs.25,000/- to the District Legal Services Authorities, Jalpaiguri within seven days from today," the order stated..The practice of seeking frequent adjournments of cases has been deprecated by several judges and courts.On Thursday, April 21, Supreme Court judge Justice AM Khanwilkar took strong exception to the fact that such requests were made in almost all cases listed before the bench headed by him and he asked the Bar to introspect."We have been sitting here since 10.30 am and we have done nothing. Then what is the use of being here? In every matter, there is such a request. Bar has to realise this now," he remarked.The Court also flagged the problem to Supreme Court Bar Association President Vikas Singh..On April 19, another Supreme Court judge Justice MR Shah had highlighted the same issue, stating that one of the reasons for the huge backlog of cases in the Supreme Court is frequent adjournments sought by lawyers."One of the reasons for pendency is letter for adjournments. Everyday 5 to 6 matters in criminal matters adjournments letters are given, where personal difficulty is cited," Justice Shah had said..[Read Order]