The pleas have remained unheard during six consecutive adjournments before three different benches of the Bombay High Court since September 21 last year.

Justice Srikrishna said if the counsels, from the respondent and petitioners' sides, are busy with other dates in this court or the Supreme Court, they should look for alternative arrangements. ``More senior the counsel, busier the person is bound to be. However, lack of availability of counsels cannot be ground for constant postponement of the case,'' the judge warned.

When the matter came up for directions today, it was informed thatAdvocate General C J Sawant will not attend the court for some time due to ill-health. Senior counsel K K Venugopal, representing the state government, also pleaded that the final hearing may begin after February 15, so that he could adjust his dates in the apex court.

Senior counsel V R Manohar, who represents the main respondent Girish Vyas, also requested that the matter be placed after February 1 since he was busy in yet another matter at Justice V N Arumugham's court.

However, Justice Srikrishna turned down all requests for further adjournments. He said the matter will be taken up forthright at 11 am on January 25.

The petitions have aroused tremendous public curiosity, since they allege that the state urban development department and Pune Municipal Corporation committed irregularities to accommodate Vyas' multi-storeyed housing complex.