Any attempt by lawyers, particularly the seniors, to engage in lengthy and time-consuming arguments would only further erode the people's confidence in the legal system, a Bench of Justices C K Thakker and Markandeya Katju observed.

"We are all servants of the public let us not waste the precious time of this court. Already people are screaming that their cases are dragging on endlessly for years," the Bench observed while asking a senior counsel to cut down his argument in a case related to an industrial dispute.

The apex court said that it has already passed instructions that seniors should be very brief in their arguments as that would save considerable time of the courts and the litigant public.

The Bench also deplored the tendency of some advocates seeking permission to withdraw their petitions during the pendency of a case, which the apex court felt was an apparent attempt to abuse the process of law.

"We are coming across instances when some advocates after noting that there are some adverse observations plead for withdrawing the petition. They then file another petition after the roster (judges) is changed so that the matter is posted before a convenient bench," the apex court observed.

Such tactics should not be followed by advocates, the Bench said.