The Supreme Court has issued a circular laying down revised procedures for seeking adjournments in cases, superseding its earlier circulars from November and December 2025.

Under the new framework, adjournment requests in fresh and after-notice matters may be made through letters circulated by Advocates-on-Record or parties-in-person, subject to strict conditions. Such requests must be served in advance on the opposing side with proof of service and submitted via email before 11:00 a.m. on the previous working day. The opposing party is permitted to file objections by 12:00 noon, which will also be placed before the Court.

The circular mandates that every adjournment request must disclose specific reasons along with the number of prior adjournments sought. Importantly, adjournments will be granted only in exceptional circumstances such as bereavement, medical issues, or other genuine grounds to the satisfaction of the Court. It also restricts adjournment requests in fresh matters to a single instance and prohibits two consecutive adjournments without the matter being listed before the Court.

In a significant move aimed at curbing delays, the Court has categorically barred the circulation of adjournment letters in regular matters. All such cases must be taken up by the Court without seeking adjournment through written requests.

Additionally, as reflected in Annexure A of the circular, a prescribed format for adjournment applications has been introduced, requiring details such as case number, reason for adjournment, period sought, prior adjournments, and confirmation of intimation to other parties.

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