Bombay HC imposes Rs 15,000 cost on petitioner for frivolous plea – Times of India

MUMBAI: Bombay HC on Monday imposed a cost of Rs 15,000 on a petitioner, payable to St Jude India ChildCare Centres, Cotton Green, for an “irresponsible” plea of “urgency” when there was none. The HC last week and again on Monday, in a preventive move to curb Covid-19 spread, drastically restricted its hours.
On Monday, a hearing was sought in a matter filed in 2018 against a developer, before Justice Gautam Patel. The judge noted he had already issued a notice that for the convenience of the Bar (advocates) and to save time, parties are allowed to seek hearing for “truly urgent'” matters that require orders for relief. The notice clearly said if no urgency is found, costs may be imposed. Justice Patel said, “The present listing…is thoroughly irresponsible. It is a regular contempt motion. There can be no urgency in this.” The advocates could not possibly have advised the parties that the matter was urgent, said the judge.The lawyer said he had advised his client not to insist, yet he did.