In the "Land-For-Jobs" case, a court has criticized an advocate's request for an adjournment, calling it "entirely self-serving and completely unexceptional" because it was based on a lawyers' strike.

In the Land-for-Jobs case, a Delhi court rapped an advocate for seeking adjournment citing lawyers’ strike, calling the ground “entirely self-serving and completely unexceptional”.

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court in the high-profile land-for-jobs scam case, on Friday, rapped an advocate who sought an adjournment from advancing arguments on charges, citing the ongoing lawyers’ strike. The court termed the ground of adjournment as “entirely self-serving and completely unexceptional.”

The matter is being heard by Special Judge Vishal Gogne, who is conducting arguments on charges against several accused persons, including former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. Out of the 103 accused in the case, four have already died.

On Friday, the court was scheduled to hear arguments on behalf of three accused, Accused No. 25, 27, and 57. However, their counsel declined to proceed, citing the strike by Delhi lawyers.

Judge Gogne observed that:

• Arguments on charges have been ongoing day-to-day since July 1.

• Out of 99 surviving accused, 92 have already completed their arguments.

• The counsel had been specifically allotted this date for arguments.

Despite being available online and capable of addressing arguments in hybrid mode, the lawyer refused, insisting on adjournment until after the strike.

The court expressed disapproval, noting that the refusal amounted to deliberate avoidance of arguments. Judge Gogne remarked,

“The grounds for adjournment are entirely self-serving and completely unexceptional.”

The Court added,

“The counsel for the said accused has submitted that he is unwilling to address arguments today on account of a strike by lawyers. It is further submitted that since the strike shall be continuing till tomorrow, he shall not be advancing the arguments on August 23 either, and a date for arguments thereafter may be given by the court.”

The trial court, designated for MP/MLA cases, is bound to ensure expeditious hearings as per Supreme Court directions.

The judge further stressed that adjournments could only be granted under exceptional circumstances, which were not present in this case.

Even after being granted a final chance at 2:30 pm, the advocate refused to argue. Consequently, the court recorded that the counsel for Accused 25, 27, and 57 had forsaken the right to argue orally. However, in the interest of fairness, the court allowed the accused to file written submissions within one week.

The matter was then posted for further hearing of arguments by the remaining accused on Saturday.

The controversy comes amid an ongoing lawyers’ strike across Delhi courts, called by the Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations. The strike protests the August 13 order of the Delhi Lieutenant Governor, which allows police to present evidence virtually from police stations.

Bar associations warned lawyers against appearing in courts, physically or virtually, threatening “strict action” against violators.

The Land-for-Jobs Scam

The case pertains to alleged illegal appointments in the Group-D category of West Central Railway, Jabalpur, during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister (2004–2009). In exchange, it is alleged that recruits were coerced to transfer land parcels in the name of Yadav’s family members or associates.