SC seeks to enforce time limit for arguments

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, July 28

Faced with protracted arguments and written submissions running into hundreds of pages, the Supreme Court has sought to streamline the process by prescribing limits as to time and number of pages.

“I’m left wondering how do we dispose of an appeal pending for 10 years? How do we justify to a litigant that while suits that began 85 years ago are pending? Some of the current matters are given priority and they go on for hours,” a Bench led by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said.

While dealing with a case relating to revocation of senior designation of Gujarat High Court Bar leader Yatin Oza, the Bench asked lawyers to stick to time limits and refrain from filing voluminous written submissions with a larger number of verdicts cited.

“Short synopsis to be filed in not more than three pages each, and not more than one judgement cited per proposition,” the top court said fixing the hearing schedule.

It also fixed time limits for advocates for various parties to make their oral submissions.

Frowning upon the practice of arguments running into hours, the Bench wondered if there was any country which allowed such practice. It said the synopsis had to be filed in advance and the lawyers confined themselves to their respective synopsis.

“I would like to be enlightened, I have searched for it and I haven’t been able to find out what the structure is in different countries. Even in England I haven’t been able to find where such arguments can go on for ours. I would like to know if any system permits this,” Justice Kaul said.

Maintaining that arguments should be finished within the given time, it warned that the case will be adjourned for a longer date, as that was the only way to enforce discipline with regard to time frame.