Delhi High Court criticises ‘culture of adjournments’, urges reform amid massive case backlog

The Delhi High Court (HC) has decried the “culture of adjournments” in courts, warning that indiscriminate requests for delays are slowing down the judicial process and impacting the delivery of justice.

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna made the observation while hearing a petition seeking a waiver of a ₹20,000 cost imposed on a petitioner for non-appearance by his advocate. The petitioner argued that the advocate could not attend court due to professional commitments in other trial court cases and also cited personal difficulties as a single mother of two children. The court, however, noted that the absence was primarily due to professional obligations, not personal reasons.

“Unfortunately, there is a culture of adjournments which has developed over a period of time in the courts… adjournments are being sought indiscriminately, without any consideration for the time of the opposite party’s advocate or the court,” the order dated December 10 said. While waiving the cost, the court expressed hope that this practice would reduce over time.

Adjournments are requests to postpone or delay a court hearing to a later date. While sometimes necessary for legitimate reasons, excessive or routine adjournments can prolong trials , leading to delayed justice and increased legal costs. They can also affect the rights of litigants , as long waits may prevent timely resolution of disputes or access to remedies.

The issue is particularly pressing in India, where the judicial system faces a massive backlog of cases. According to the National Judicial Data Grid, nearly 4.8 crore cases are pending across courts , ranging from civil disputes to criminal matters. Experts say that habitual adjournments, along with other procedural delays, contribute significantly to this accumulation and hinder the timely delivery of justice.

Legal analysts note that reforming this culture is essential not only for efficiency but also for upholding citizens’ rights . Timely justice is a constitutional guarantee, and repeated delays can erode public trust in the legal system.

By highlighting this “culture of adjournments,” the Delhi High Court has drawn attention to a wider systemic challenge , urging lawyers and litigants to be mindful of court schedules and the broader implications of routine delays.