Mitali Palnitkar
Published on: March 12, 2022 at IST
Delhi High Court proposed to enhance the Pecuniary Jurisdiction of Civil Judges from Rs 3 Lakhs to Rs 20 Lakhs for Adjudicating original Suits.
Court passed a Resolution to this effect and the same was communicated to the concerned Ministry through the letter dated March 7, 2022.
The Bench comprising Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna was hearing the Writ Petition filed by Advocate Amit Sahni.
The Writ Petition sought directions to the Law Department of the Delhi Government and the Registrar General of the High Court for rational distribution of enhanced Pecuniary Jurisdiction of Civil Judges at District Courts of Delhi for Adjudicating original Suits.
The Plea stated that the Pecuniary value of Rs 3 Lakhs entrusted to the Civil Judges of District Courts in Delhi is extremely low and there is no property worth Rs 3 Lakhs in Delhi. This leads to Stagnation as Civil Judges are Adjudicating Suits for Injunction and petty Suits for Recovery Amounting up to Rs 3 Lakhs.
It was pointed out in the Plea that the Districts Courts neighboring Delhi that is Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad enjoyed unlimited Pecuniary Jurisdiction.
It was Stated that if the Pecuniary Jurisdiction of Civil Judges was increased to Rs 20 to 30 Lakhs, the burden upon the District and Additional District Judges would be lessened. Also, the burden upon the High Court would be lessened as the Appeals would be filed before the Additional District Judges or the District Judges instead of the High Court.
Advocate Sahni had filed a similar Writ Petition earlier as well, but it was Disposed of by the High Court stating that the issue would be considered on the Administrative side.
However, as per his knowledge, no decision was taken upon it. Thus, he filed the instant Writ Petition seeking similar Reliefs.
On March 11, 2022; the Counsel representing the Administrative side of the High Court informed the Court that the Full Court on February 9, 2022 decided to increase the Pecuniary Jurisdiction of Civil Courts.
Therefore, the Bench disposed of the Plea.
Also Read- Exclusion of Jurisdiction of Civil Court