Timely judgment

Frequent court adjournments with long gap from one date to another have been dragging the cases for a very long time. People above 60 cannot have the hope of getting judgments in their life-time consequent to which the case may get closed adding to the number of cases disposed of. Recent order of apex court is a distinct relief to an elderly ailing litigant who was locked in a property dispute. Generally, it is the litigant whose case is weak against the other favours too many adjournments in the hope that his/her opponent may pass away leading to the permanent burial of case. Justice B Lokur has set an example of slapping a fine of Rs 10000 for every adjournment after reasonable number of adjournments were granted free of cost. The penalty imposed is a bit on higher side. But the fear of penalty for seeking adjournments without valid reasons must subsist. Imposition of penalty to the adjournment seekers without valid reasons will definitely go a long way in the expeditious disposal of cases. There should also be no room for the judges to fix and impose the penalty at their own sweet wills. It must be categorically stated in law the quantum of amount to be fixed as penalty for each of the adjournments over and above the ceiling limit. Not everything should be left to court. Courts must deliver the judgments within the framework of laws. Lacunae and shortfalls in the provisions of the law must be plugged up by the law makers with the valuable suggestions obtained from the judges and expert lawyers. — K V Seetharamaiah