In a sharp observation reflecting frustration over frequent adjournment requests, Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya on Monday remarked, “We invite you all for tea as nobody appeared in court.” The comment came after several matters listed before the Bench witnessed no representation or repeated pleas for adjournment.
Chief Justice Upadhyaya noted that while courts are often criticised for delays in hearings, the reality is that many cases do not proceed because lawyers or parties seek adjournments when the matters are called.
“The courts are blamed for not hearing the matters, but when the matters are taken up, adjournment is sought,” the Chief Justice remarked in open court.
The Bench, which was scheduled to hear a large number of cases, found that in several instances either the counsels were absent or sought to defer the hearing to another date.
Legal observers said the remark underscores a persistent problem in the judicial system — the tendency of parties to delay proceedings, contributing to the mounting backlog of cases.
The Chief Justice’s comments serve as a reminder that timely participation from all stakeholders — judges, lawyers, and litigants — is essential for the effective functioning of the justice delivery system.
The court later proceeded to take up matters where counsels were present and reiterated that unnecessary adjournments would not be entertained unless justified by valid reasons.
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