Bombay HC expresses displeasure over last-minute filings to stay Look Out Circulars

New Delhi, June 27

The Bombay High Court expressed its displeasure over last-minute filings by applicants seeking temporary stay on Look Out Circulars (LOCs) issued against them to travel abroad after finalising their itineraries, as it showed how they took the courts for granted, Bar and Bench reported.

A Division Bench of Justices G.S. Patel and Neela Gokhale declared that it was unacceptable that applicants were finalising their itineraries even before approaching courts.

They were implicitly assuming that their matters will be heard on priority to permit them to keep up to their itinerary, Bar and Bench reported.

"This is not a question of whether or not there is a right that is violated. In all these applications, it seems that courts are more or less being taken for granted, that permissions will follow...and, more importantly, that applications will be taken up on a priority basis and even out of turn to permit the applicants to keep to their itineraries. This is not acceptable," the Bench stressed.

The Bench warned that parties seeking stay on LOCs were required to apply well in advance, failing which the applications will not be entertained, Bar and Bench reported.

"When last-minute applications are made like this, it is extremely disruptive. Our staff is greatly inconvenienced. Orders are to be drawn up after the order is passed, transcribed almost instantly, sometimes on the dais itself, then corrected, then signed and uploaded and we are supposed to believe that we are required to do this for a greater convenience of the applicants, the disruption to court being irrelevant. We will not entertain such applications when they are made in this manner again."

The Court was hearing an application filed by one Sanjay Dangi, a witness in a case being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Dangi was seeking permission to travel to New York for a gathering and claimed to be the main person at the event, Bar and Bench reported.

Dangi attached an undertaking with his application where he vowed to continue his cooperation with the CBI in further proceedings before the special court.

He wished to travel to the US and certain cities until July 7, 2023.

The High Court stayed the LOC in question till July 10, subject to certain compliances like undertaking to not ask for extension, etc.

Even though the Court granted him permission to travel abroad, it imposed costs on him.

It directed Dangi to pay an amount of Rs 50,000 to St Jude India Childcare Centres by June 26, Bar and Bench reported.