Hundreds of Advocates Raise Concerns Over Listing Delays in MP High Court
The Madhya Pradesh High Court Advocates Association has written to the Chief Justice of the High Court, highlighting several problems related to case listing, rosters, and court procedures.
The letter, dated November 26, carries hundreds of signatures, showing the seriousness of the concerns raised by lawyers. The Association has also indicated that if these issues are not addressed in time, advocates may stop court work. A general meeting on December 1 is planned to discuss the matter further.
The lawyers have urged the Chief Justice to resolve the issues before the meeting so that proper updates can be shared with all members and court functioning does not get affected.
According to the letter, the concerns mainly arise from inconsistent listing practices, procedural difficulties, and frequent changes in rosters, which have created uncertainty in the daily functioning of the High Court.
Key Issues Raised
1. Closure of court slip drop boxes
Earlier, advocates could submit court slips through drop boxes, helping them get tentative dates for hearings. This system has been discontinued, causing inconvenience and making listings unpredictable.
2. Delay and confusion in case listings
There is no clear policy for “non-reach” cases—matters that are listed but not taken up due to shortage of time. These cases are often not relisted. Even cases with fixed dates mentioned in court slips are reportedly not being scheduled.
3. Backlog in bail matters
The Association has suggested that assigning bail cases to judges after lunch could help clear the large number of pending bail matters before the winter vacation. Currently, five Division Benches are functioning.
4. Section 482 CrPC / Section 528 BNSS petitions not being listed
Fresh petitions seeking quashing of FIRs and similar reliefs are not being given dates. Since these cannot be heard along with bail matters, the lawyers have requested a separate Bench for such cases.
5. Roster issues concerning relief-oriented judges
According to the letter, some judges known for granting relief are not being given significant case rosters or are facing unnecessary roster changes, potentially affecting perceptions of their fairness and integrity.
6. Difficulty in filing contempt cases
Lawyers are facing hurdles in filing contempt petitions because they are required to attach copies of all cases referred to in earlier orders—making the process cumbersome.
7. Internal disagreements becoming public
The Association has also expressed concern that alleged differences between judges are getting circulated among lawyers, affecting the overall reputation of the High Court.
