New Delhi

The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to entertain a petition seeking the formulation of guidelines to ensure time-bound disposal of cases across courts in the country.

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and V Mohana dismissed the plea filed by an advocate, who had also sought uniform and enforceable norms to regulate the granting of adjournments in courts nationwide.

Appearing in person, the petitioner argued that frequent and unregulated adjournments were contributing significantly to delays in the justice delivery system and requested judicial intervention to address the issue.

During the hearing, the bench suggested that the petitioner raise the matter with legal bodies and bar associations rather than seeking directions from the apex court.

"You may approach the Bar Council of India, State Bar Councils, High Court Bar Associations and District Court Bar Associations," the bench observed.

In a lighter moment during the proceedings, the judges remarked that they did not wish to create friction with the legal fraternity.

"We don't want to take enmity with lawyers. We are friends with them," the bench said humorously.

The petition had also sought the creation of a nationwide case-flow management framework applicable to all courts. It proposed fixed timelines for various stages of judicial proceedings, stricter regulation of adjournments, day-to-day hearings in appropriate matters and priority disposal of long-pending cases.

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However, the Supreme Court chose not to examine the plea further and dismissed it at the threshold.