In SC, what has been done unofficially in recent months has finally been made official. It is forbidden for senior counsel to bring up any matter before any bench. A circular outlining the process for mentioning, adjourning, and listing urgent matters has been released by the court.
It states that during the next two working days, all new cases pertaining to the death penalty, bail/cancellation of bail, habeas corpus, eviction, demolition, or any other issue requiring immediate interim relief will be listed.
It states that youthful junior lawyers may be urged to make oral comments before any court, but senior counsel is not allowed to do so.
The circular stated that "the mentioning pro-forma and the letter of urgency must be handed over to the mentioning officer prior to 10:30am in case of an exceptionally urgent matter relating to anticipatory bail, death penalty, habeas corpus, eviction/dispossession, and demolition, which cannot await listing on the scheduled date as per circular."
It stated, "Adjournment of the case would be considered only in case of bereavement in the family or medical/health condition of the advocate/party-in-person or such other genuine reason to the satisfaction of the court," in an attempt to deter attorneys from requesting needless adjournments.
