SC: Even a snail can question pace of trials
The Supreme Court of India criticized the extreme delays in a commercial lawsuit that has remained in the evidence stage since 2015. The court rejected a plea by Levitate Mobile Technologies to introduce additional documents, citing a lack of justifiable cause.
Why it matters
It highlights the systemic issue of judicial backlog in India, which undermines the effectiveness of commercial legislation designed to expedite business litigation.
NEW DELHI: Noting that a commercial suit filed in 2015 was still at the evidence stage in Delhi HC, Supreme Court said even a snail would question the speed at which the trial was proceeding. The court passed the observation while rejecting a plea by Levitate Mobile Technologies Pvt Ltd (LMT) to introduce additional documents in its suit against Standard Chartered Bank. "The suit in question was filed in 2015. As of 2026, plaintiff's evidence is ongoing. We may say that even a snail may question the speed at which this trial is proceeding. When this reality is juxtaposed with the intent of the legislation and the malady it sought to cure within civil and specifically business litigation in India, the contrast is stark," the bench said.
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