CJI Sanjiv Khanna Rules Out Going Back To Old System Of Adjournment Letters’ Circulation

Pranav Shukla

On Tuesday, November 26, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna stated firmly that the previous practice of requesting adjournments through circulated letters will not be brought back.

On the Constitution Day event hosted by the Supreme Court Bar Association, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna noted that at one time, nearly 1,000 adjournment letters were circulated daily. However, under the new system, this number has significantly reduced to around 150 per month. Consequently, the CJI described reverting to the old system as “counter-productive.”

On December 2023, the Supreme Court temporarily banned the practice of requesting adjournments through letter circulation. Subsequently, on February 2024, the Court introduced a revised procedure, stipulating that adjournment requests via letters would not be accepted for specific case categories, including fresh and regular hearing matters. Under the new guidelines, adjournment letters may only be circulated once.

Following Justice Khanna’s appointment as Chief Justice of India, members of the bar urged him to reinstate the practice of circulating adjournment letters. However, the CJI clarified today that this request has been declined.

“I have a request to make, and I hope it will be received in the right spirit. I have been receiving repeated appeals to reinstate the old system of circulating adjournment letters. After reviewing the data, it shows that in just three months, around 9,000 to 10,000 adjournment requests were circulated—amounting to over 1,000 letters per day. This makes reverting to the old system unfeasible. The current system, however, has brought significant improvements. In the past 11 months, we have received approximately 1,400 applications—reducing the numbers from 100 letters per day to 150 per month. This is a remarkable shift.If you have suggestions to further improve the current system, we are open to considering them, but returning to the previous approach would likely be counterproductive. Today, on this occasion, let us reflect on our strengths and weaknesses and work together in the right spirit.” CJI said.

He also discussed plans to enhance infrastructure for lawyers, including the addition of a new conference room, more cabins for oath commissioners, and increased photocopying facilities. The CJI mentioned that Wi-Fi speed has been upgraded through the installation of additional routers, with coverage now extended to the ladies’ bar room as well.

In conclusion, the reforms introduced by CJI Sanjiv Khanna signify a pivotal step toward streamlining judicial processes and reducing inefficiencies. By addressing systemic delays and enhancing infrastructure for lawyers, the judiciary is fostering a more effective legal environment. These measures underscore a commitment to modernizing court practices while maintaining openness to constructive feedback.