The Delhi High Court has invited bar association representatives for a meeting on January 30 to discuss increasing the pecuniary jurisdiction of district courts. Lawyers have long demanded the move to reduce delays, cut litigation costs, and ensure faster justice.
New Delhi: Representatives of the Coordination Committee of All District Courts Bar Associations have been called for a meeting with a committee of judges from the Delhi High Court on January 30. The meeting will discuss the long-pending issue of increasing the pecuniary jurisdiction of district courts in Delhi.
The pecuniary jurisdiction decides the maximum value of civil cases that a court can hear. At present, district courts in Delhi can hear civil cases only up to Rs 2 crore. Advocates have been demanding that this limit be increased to ensure faster justice and reduce the heavy workload of the Delhi High Court.
In May last year, the coordination committee had written to Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, asking him to raise the pecuniary limits of all district courts in the national capital from the existing Rs 2 crore to a minimum of Rs 20 crore. The demand was made citing rising inflation and the increasing value of civil disputes.
During the same month, a delegation of advocates, including coordination committee chairman Nagendra Kumar, its spokesperson Neeraj, and New Delhi Bar Association (NDBA) secretary Tarun Rana, met the Union Law Minister. They urged him to amend the Delhi High Court Act so that the pecuniary jurisdiction of district courts could be enhanced.
Later, in November, the coordination committee along with the NDBA organised a large meeting of advocates at the Patiala House district courts complex.
During the meeting, lawyers demanded a revision of pecuniary jurisdiction, stating that higher financial limits at the district court level would help reduce delays in justice delivery and bring down the pendency of cases before higher courts.
On January 24 this year, the Registrar General of the Delhi High Court sent a letter to the chairman of the coordination committee. The letter stated that a committee of High Court judges, formed to examine the issue, had decided to interact directly with representatives of the district courts bar.
The letter said,
“I am, therefore, to request you to kindly send three or four representatives of the coordination committee, All District Courts Bar Associations of Delhi, for interaction with the judges of the committee on Friday, January 30…”
Responding to the development, NDBA secretary Rana said,
“Our demand for enhancing the original Pecuniary civil jurisdiction to district courts is to ensure meeting the concept of speedy justice and justice at the doorstep. Justice delayed is justice denied. We believe that the competent authorities are now also in agreement.”
Coordination committee chairman Kumar also welcomed the move and highlighted the difficulties faced by ordinary litigants. He said,
“The requirement of increasing Pecuniary jurisdiction of district courts in Delhi is for the welfare of common litigants who face the issues of high litigation costs and delayed justice.”
The upcoming meeting is being seen as a crucial step towards reforming Delhi’s civil justice system, with lawyers hoping that an increase in pecuniary jurisdiction will bring quicker and more affordable justice closer to the people.
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