The Bombay High Court has cautioned litigants against routinely attributing delays in legal proceedings to their lawyers without taking any concrete steps against them. The Court made these observations while declining to condone a delay of over 200 days in filing a first appeal.
Justice Jitendra Jain noted that it has become common for parties to shift blame onto advocates when procedural timelines are missed, yet they neither implead the concerned lawyers in the proceedings nor initiate any disciplinary or legal action. The Court observed that such allegations, when unsupported by action or evidence, cannot be accepted as a valid explanation for delay.
Emphasising the responsibility of litigants to remain vigilant about their cases, the Court stated that merely accusing a lawyer of negligence is insufficient. If a party genuinely believes that an advocate’s conduct caused prejudice, appropriate steps must be taken, including pursuing remedies available under law.
The ruling underscores that litigants cannot seek leniency from courts while failing to demonstrate accountability, and that diligence in following up on one’s own case is an essential obligation in the justice process.
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