The practice of adjournments will now be granted only in exceptional circumstances as the Supreme Court has put in place a stricter framework for adjournments with the aim of curbing delays and clearing the backlog of cases.
A major step towards tackling judicial delays has been taken by the Supreme Court of India with a stricter framework for adjournments coming into effect from March 18, 2026.
Under the newly issued circular, adjournment requests are to be considered only in “exceptional circumstances,” including instances such as bereavement in the family or serious medical emergencies. It has been mandated that specific reasons for seeking adjournment, along with details of previously sought delays, must be disclosed by lawyers and litigants.
The move has been initiated with an aim to resolve the increasing pendency of cases, which has exceeded 92,800 in the apex court as of early 2026. It has been ensured that the opposing party is granted the right to formally object to the requests.
A stricter procedural framework has been laid down under the directions of the Chief Justice of India. For fresh and post-notice matters, it has been made compulsory for the Advocate-on-Record to serve the adjournment request on the opposing party by 11:00 a.m. on the previous working day. A window until 12:00 noon has been provided to the opposite side to file objections via email, which are to be placed before the Bench for consideration.
In a significant shift, the circulation of adjournment letters in regular matters listed for final hearing has been completely prohibited.
The circular, bearing F.No. 3/Judl./2026 and signed by Registrars Rajesh Sharma, Dr. Ajit Atri, and Pavanesh D., has clarified that adjournments will be granted only when circumstances are found satisfactory by the Court.
This development is seen as part of a sustained effort to eliminate habitual delays in judicial proceedings. Earlier concerns had been raised within the judiciary regarding the growing tendency of repeated adjournments, which had been identified as a major obstacle to timely justice.
Data from the National Judicial Data Grid has underscored the urgency of reform, with over 73,000 civil and 19,000 criminal cases currently pending before the Supreme Court. The practice of granting adjournments too frequently has always been considered unfavorable to the right to a speedy trial, as provided for under Article 21 of the Constitution.
By controlling adjournments and scrutinizing them more closely, more emphasis is being placed on the finality of cases.
We strive to make a lasting impact on India’s policy and planning landscape through fair, unbiased, and incisive research based journalism.
But we can’t do it alone.
Together, we can create a better India, where policies are fair, planning is unbiased, and the truth prevails. Your contribution matters, and we shall be immensely grateful for your support.