SC: Even a snail can question pace of trials

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. SC said all the documents had been in LMT's possession. "That apart, when we consider the reasons for filing of additional documents in the first round, we find that they are substantially simil-ar to the grounds raised in the present application," it said. "The suit was originally initiated on May 27, 2015, was renumbered and registered as a commercial suit under Commercial Courts Act on Jan 30, 2018, the very same date on which the appellant's first application for placing on record the additional documents stood allowed," SC said, adding that on Nov 18, 2023, a subsequent application taking the same plea was filed. This petition stood rejected on Feb 12 2025, "finding LMT not to have furnished any reasonable cause or justifiable explanation," it said.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.