Malawi's high court has postponed a controversial hearing of pop diva Madonna's adoption of a boy from the southern African country from today to May 15, media reported today.

Madonna's attorney Alan Chinula has asked the court to delay the case because she had to go to the United States on business.

"I believe May 15 should be the final date for the hearing unless her lawyers ask for another date and put up reasonable arguments for that," the High Court official told media on condition of anonymity.

Madonna applied for the adoption of two-year-old David Banda in 2006 when she visited an orphanage in Malawi. The boy has since lived with Madonna and her film director husband Guy Ritchie in London shortly after the adoption process began.

The Malawi's government recommended the court approve the adoption. But critics accused the government for skirting the law that bans the non-resident to adopt orphan.