1. The Pre-Hearing Checklist: 48 Hours Before Court
Thorough preparation in chambers before the hearing date prevents avoidable adjournments and ensures counsel is fully armed with original records:
Essential Pre-Court Verification
- Cause List Confirmation: Check the Daily Cause List published online on the official e-Courts Portal or High Court of Rajasthan website. Note down the Court Number, Hon'ble Presiding Judge's name, Item Number, and Category (e.g. For Orders, For Admission, For Evidence).
- Original Documentation: Separate original identity cards (Aadhaar / Voter ID / Passport) from case documents. Carry two complete duplicate sets of indexed photocopies for counsel's instant use.
- Briefing Chronology: Re-verify key dates (date of incident, date of police notice, date of agreement, bank return memo date) so that facts are immediately recalled without hesitation.
- Surety Documentation (In Bail Hearings): If attending for bail bond execution, ensure sureties are physically present with revenue records (Jamabandi/Fard), photo identity, and passport-size photographs.
2. Court Attire & Physical Appearance Standards
Judicial proceedings demand sobriety, modesty, and utmost respect for the institution of justice:
- Acceptable Attire: Formal, sober attire in subdued tones. For men: plain collared shirts (white, light blue) with formal dark trousers and closed shoes. For women: formal salwar-kameez, saree, or formal trousers with modest tops.
- Strictly Prohibited Clothing: T-shirts with slogans, ripped jeans, shorts, athletic tracksuits, sleeveless tops, and flip-flops/slippers. Dressing casually risks judicial censure.
- Headgear & Accessories: Sunglasses must be removed before stepping into the courtroom. Religious turbans and head coverings are fully respected.
3. Courtroom Decorum & Addressing the Presiding Judge
Courtrooms function on strict conventions of silence, order, and structured representation:
- District & Sessions Courts: Address the Judicial Magistrate or District Judge respectfully as 'Your Honour' or 'Sir/Madam'.
- Rajasthan High Court: Address the Hon'ble High Court Judges as 'My Lord' or 'Your Lordship' in accordance with High Court conventions.
- Rule of Silence: Litigants must never interrupt when counsel or the Judge is speaking. You should speak ONLY when the Judge directly addresses you or asks a specific factual question.
4. Electronic Devices & Prohibition of Recording
Under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, and Rajasthan High Court Rules:
All mobile phones must be switched to complete silent mode or powered off before crossing the courtroom threshold. Audio recording, video recording, or taking photographs inside court premises or courtrooms is strictly prohibited by law and constitutes criminal contempt punishable with summary detention.
5. Understanding Hearing Stages: What Actually Happens
Litigants frequently expect dramatic television trials; in practice, hearings progress through distinct procedural stages:
The 4 Common Stages of a Daily Hearing
1. Calling the Cause List (Roll Call): The Court Reader/Peshkar calls cases by serial item number. Counsel or the clerk marks presence. Cases may be passed over for second call if senior counsel is engaged before another bench.
2. Interlocutory & Miscellaneous Matters: Brief hearings (3 to 10 minutes) for granting adjournments, accepting replies, filing rejoinders, or issuing summons. The parties are rarely required to speak.
3. Recording of Evidence & Witness Deposition: When a matter is fixed for prosecution or defence evidence, the witness enters the witness box (Katghara), takes a solemn affirmation, and is cross-examined by opposing counsel under the supervision of the Judge.
4. Final Arguments: Counsel present detailed legal submissions, reference statutory sections of BNS/BNSS/BSA or CPC, and cite binding Supreme Court and High Court law reports.
6. Giving Evidence in the Witness Box (Katghara)
If you are deposing as a complainant, plaintiff, or defence witness:
- Listen Carefully: Listen to the complete question asked by the cross-examining advocate before answering. If a question is unclear, politely request it to be repeated.
- Truthful & Concise Answers: Answer specifically what is asked without volunteering extraneous theories. If you genuinely do not remember a specific date or figure, state "I do not recall" rather than guessing.
- Remain Calm: Opposing counsel may ask probing or uncomfortable questions to test credibility. Maintain composure; your counsel will object if a question is legally impermissible.
Frequently Asked Questions on Court Attendance
In civil suits and writ petitions, parties are represented by their advocates through a Vakalatnama, and physical presence is usually only required on dates fixed for evidence, compromise recording, or when specifically directed by the Court. In criminal trials where the accused is on bail, personal appearance is mandatory unless an exemption application (under Section 317 CrPC / Section 355 BNSS) is filed and granted by the Magistrate.
If neither the party nor the advocate answers upon consecutive calls, the court may dismiss a civil suit for default (Order IX CPC), or in a criminal case, issue non-bailable warrants (NBW) against the absent accused. It is vital that counsel's chamber junior or the litigant remains present during cause list hours.