The Delhi High Court on Saturday proposed to increase the pecuniary jurisdiction of Civil Judges from Rs.3 lakh to Rs.20 lakh.
The court was hearing a plea seeking rationale distribution and enhancement of pecuniary jurisdiction of the civil judges, posted at various district courts of Delhi.
A counsel representing the administrative side of the Delhi High Court informed the bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna about the decision of the full court, taken on February 9, 2022, to increase the pecuniary jurisdiction of civil courts. The ministry concerned were informed about the decision of the court through a letter on March 7.
Advocate Amit Sahni had filed a writ petition seeking a direction to the Law Department of the Delhi Government and the Registrar General of the High Court to rationally distribute pecuniary jurisdiction of Civil Judges posted at District Courts Delhi for increasing original suits.
“The pecuniary value of Rs 3 lakh entrusted to civil judges of Delhi district courts is on the extremely lower side and no property in Delhi is worth ‘three lakh’ and the same has led to stern stagnation as civil judges of Delhi district courts are adjudicating injunction Suits and petty suit for recovery amounting up to three lakh only.”
A similar writ petition filed by Sahni was disposed of by the High court, Sahni filed an instant writ petition seeking similar reliefs.
In his petition he contended that the pecuniary limit of Rs 3 lakh is very meagre for civil courts, if it is increased upto ₹20 lakh or ₹30 lakh, it would lessen the burden of the District and Additional District Judges.
The burden of High court will also be reduced as the the appeals would then be filed before ADJ of the District Judges. He said that the pecuniary jurisdiction of the civil courts needs to be increased so as to resolve the burden of upon District Judges or Additional District Judges.
However, the bench noted that the full court has already decided to increase the pecuniary jurisdiction of civil courts on February 9, 2022.Therefore, the bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna disposed of the plea.