Supreme Court Decries 'Adjournment Culture': An Ethical and Institutional Challenge to Justice Delivery

The Supreme Court of India has recently issued a stern critique of the prevailing 'adjournment culture' in the nation's courts, labeling it a significant ethical and professional failure. The Court observed that the practice of seeking repeated delays has become a systemic burden, transforming the legal process into an arduous ordeal for litigants and violating the fundamental right to a speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution. From a governance perspective, the Court’s remarks touch upon the core of 'Probity in Governance' and the 'Work Culture' of public institutions. The judiciary, as a pillar of democracy, is expected to provide timely justice to maintain the rule of law. However, the frequent seeking of adjournments by lawyers—often on flimsy grounds—and the perceived leniency of the bench in granting them have led to a massive backlog of cases. This 'culture' not only delays justice but also increases the cost of litigation, making the legal system inaccessible to the marginalized sections of society.