Delhi High Court Proposes To Enhance Pecuniary Jurisdiction Of Civil Courts From Rs. 3 Lakh To Rs. 20 Lakh

The Full Court of Delhi High Court has proposed to enhance the pecuniary jurisdiction of Civil Judges for adjudicating original suits from Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh.

A resolution to this effect was passed by the Full Court on February 9 and the same has been communicated to the concerned Ministry vide letter dated March 7.

The development came in a writ petition filed by Advocate Amit Sahni, seeking a direction upon the Law Department of the Delhi Government and the Registrar General of the High Court to rationally distribute enhance pecuniary jurisdiction of Civil Judges posted at District Courts Delhi for adjudicating original suits.

"The pecuniary value of Rs. 3 Lacs entrusted to Civil Judges of Delhi District Courts is on extremely lower side and no property in Delhi is worth "3 Lacs" and the same has led to stem stagnation as Civil Judges of Delhi District Courts are adjudicating Injunction Suits and petty suit for Recovery amounting upto 3 lacs only," the plea stated.

It further pointed out that District Courts in neighbourhood of Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad enjoy unlimited pecuniary jurisdiction.

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.

Earlier, a similar writ petition filed by Sahni was disposed of by the High Court, stating that the issue will be considered on the administrative side.

Since no decision was forthcoming to his knowledge, Sahni filed the instant writ petition seeking similar reliefs.

At the outset, the counsel appearing for the High Court's administrative side on Friday informed the Court that the Full Court on February 9, 2022, has already decided to increase the pecuniary jurisdiction of civil courts.

Hearing this, a bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna disposed of the plea.

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