The Supreme Court of India, by Circular F.No. 3/Judl./2026 dated 18 March 2026, issued fresh directions governing the procedure for circulation of letters seeking adjournment of cases. The circular had been issued in supersession of earlier circulars dated 29 November 2025 and 2 December 2025.
The directions for fresh and after-notice matters are as followings:
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Letters seeking for adjournment of cases listed before the Courts are permitted to be circulated by the Advocates-on-Record/parties in-person in all cases.
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Advocates-on-Record/parties in-person should serve the copy of the Letter seeking for adjournment, in advance, on the Advocates-on-Record/parties in-person appearing on the other side/caveator and submit such a request with proof of service before 11:00 a.m., on the previous working day.
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The Advocates-on-Record/parties in-person appearing on the other side/caveator would have liberty to raise objection through e-mail before 12:00 noon, and such objection shall also be placed before the Court.
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The letter must clearly mention the specific reason for adjournment, and the number of adjournments already sought in the case.
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Adjournment should be granted only in exceptional circumstances, such as
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bereavement in the family,
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medical / health condition of the Advocate or party-in-person, or
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any other genuine reason to the satisfaction of the Court.
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In fresh matters, circulation of adjournment letter is permitted only once.
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Two consecutive adjournments should not be permitted, irrespective of which party seeks the adjournment, without the case being listed before the Court.
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Request for adjournment must be submitted in the prescribed format (Annexure-A) through e-mail adjournment.letter@sci.nic.in.
In regular matters, no Letters seeking for adjournment of cases listed before the Courts would be permitted.
Also Read:
(1) Circular bearing F.No. 22/Judl./2025 dated 29.11.2025
(2) Circular bearing F.No. 24 /Judl./2025 dated 2.12.2025
[F.No. 3/Judl./2026, notification dated 18-3-2026]
