"Will See On Administrative Side": Delhi High Court Disposes Plea For Enhancing Pecuniary Jurisdiction Of Civil Judges

The Delhi High Court today disposed of a PIL filed by Advocate Amit Sahni seeking enhancement of pecuniary jurisdiction of Civil Judges for adjudicating original suits. The present maximum pecuniary jurisdiction of civil judges is Rs. 3 lacs.

At the outset, the Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh observed that three lakh is a "very nominal amount".

The Chief Justice informed the party in person that a Committee of High Court judges will take a decision on the issue, and thereafter it will come for his approval.

"We will see on the administrative side. We are working with a Committee of High Court judges," the CJ said orally.

Accordingly, the Court disposed of the matter with a direction to the Respondent (High Court) to decide the representation made by the Petitioner expeditiously.

It however refused to make the direction time bound.

In his plea, Sahni had stated that the current pecuniary value of Rs. 3 Lacs entrusted to Civil Judges is extremely low. District Courts in neighbourhood of Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad enjoy unlimited pecuniary jurisdiction, he had pointed out.

It was further averred that if pecuniary jurisdiction of civil judges is increased upto Rs. 20 to 30 Lacs, it would lessen the burden upon District and Additional District Judges. Similarly, burden of the High Court will be reduced as the appeals arising out of such matters would then be filed before ADJ or the District Judges instead of the High Court.

Case Title: Amit Sahni v. Delhi High Court & Ors.