Adjournment Slips Without Reasons Will Not Be Accepted: Delhi HC [Read Order]

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has directed that adjournment slips filed by advocates without specifying reasons will not be accepted. The Court also instructed the Registry to modify the standard adjournment slip format to include a mandatory column for stating reasons for adjournment.

A Division Bench comprising Justice C. Hari Shankar and Justice Om Prakash Shukla issued the direction on November 6, 2025, while hearing FAO(OS)(COMM) 139/2025 in Lava International Ltd. v. Dolby International AB & Anr.

During the hearing, the Bench noted with concern that the existing adjournment slip format did not provide any space for the applicant to state reasons for seeking adjournment. Observing that such an omission could lead to misuse of the process, the Court termed it “unacceptable” and directed immediate rectification.

The Court directed the Registry to issue a revised proforma for adjournment slips, requiring counsel to clearly mention the reasons for seeking an adjournment. It further ordered that adjournment slips that do not contain such reasons “shall not be accepted by the Court Masters.”

The Bench also directed the Registrar General of the Delhi High Court to ensure compliance and to upload the revised proforma on the Court’s official website at the earliest.

The observation came while the respondents sought an adjournment on the ground of foreign travel. Considering that the matter was fixed for a specific time slot at 2:30 p.m. and involved an important and recurring question of law, the Bench refused to adjourn the case but permitted a short indulgence by re-notifying it for November 11, 2025, in the Supplementary List.

The Court further directed that the matter “shall not be passed over” and must be taken up as and when it reaches after the first call of the list. It also reiterated its earlier direction that written submissions must be filed at least 24 hours before the hearing and copies provided to the Court Master.

The interim order in the case will continue until the next date of hearing.

Appearances:

For the appellant, Lava International Ltd., Mr. Ashok K. Aggarwal, Ms. Gaurika Sood, and Mr. Nirmit Jadwani, Advocates appeared.

For the respondents, Dolby International AB & Anr., Mr. Mohd. Affan, Mr. Devanshu Khanna, Mr. Swarnil Dey, and Mr. Yagya Passi, Advocates appeared.

Case Title: Lava International Ltd. v. Dolby International AB & Anr.

[Read Order]