Adjournment of Case Management Hearing
Full Text
(1) The Court shall not adjourn the Case Management Hearing for the sole reason that the advocate appearing on behalf of a party is not present: Provided that an adjournment of the hearing is sought in advance by moving an application, the Court may adjourn the hearing to another date upon the payment of such costs as the Court deems fit, by the party moving such application.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Rule, if the Court is satisfied that there is a justified reason for the absence of the advocate, it may adjourn the hearing to another date upon such terms and conditions it deems fit.
Plain English Summary
Expressly bars adjourning a Case Management Hearing on the sole ground that a party's advocate is absent, requiring advance formal applications supported by justified cause and payment of costs.
Key Legal Elements
- Prohibition on Advocate-Absence Adjournments: Eliminates the perennial excuse of counsel busy in other courts.
- Advance Written Application Required: Must be moved prior to the hearing, not on call-over.
- Mandatory Costs: Adjournment conditional upon payment of exemplary costs.
- Strict Justified Reason Test: Medical emergency or acts of God only.
Practical Note
Handling CMH Absences: If arguing counsel has an unavoidable clash before the Supreme Court, do not send a proxy counsel to ask for a passover. File an advance application 48 hours earlier under Order XV-A Rule 7 CPC enclosing the causelist, seeking a rescheduled date with an offer of costs.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) न्यायालय केस मैनेजमेंट हियरिंग को केवल इस कारण से स्थगित नहीं करेगा (Shall not adjourn) कि किसी पक्षकार की ओर से उपस्थित होने वाला अधिवक्ता उपस्थित नहीं है: परन्तु यह कि यदि आवेदन देकर पहले से ही अग्रिम रूप से स्थगन चाहा गया है, तो न्यायालय ऐसे आवेदन करने वाले पक्षकार द्वारा ऐसा खर्चा देने पर, जैसा न्यायालय ठीक समझे, सुनवाई को किसी अन्य तारीख के लिए स्थगित कर सकेगा।
(2) इस नियम में किसी बात के होते हुए भी, यदि न्यायालय का यह समाधान हो जाता है कि अधिवक्ता की अनुपस्थिति का कोई उचित कारण (Justified reason) है, तो वह ऐसे निबंधनों और शर्तों पर, जिन्हें वह ठीक समझे, सुनवाई को किसी अन्य तारीख के लिए स्थगित कर सकेगा।