DHCBA announces work suspension after Delhi HC accepts proposal to raise district courts' pecuniary jurisdiction

The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) on Monday called for work suspension on Tuesday in view of the Delhi High Court's administrative decision to recommend enhancement of the pecuniary jurisdiction of the district courts from ₹2 crore to ₹10 crore.

Following an emergent meeting, the DHCBA's executive committee said that the increase in the pecuniary jurisdiction of the district courts in Delhi would have serious adverse consequences for its members.

The enhancement would result in reduction of cases by 70 percent before the Original Side, it claimed.

"The Executive Committee is of the view that the proposed enhancement would have far-reaching ramifications on the justice delivery system and would also substantially affect the practice, livelihood and professional interests of a large number of members of the Delhi High Court Bar Association."

Thus, the DHCBA asked its members to extend their full cooperation to the work suspension call in the collective interest of the bar.

"The cafeteria, bar rooms and other facilities will remain closed," it said in a notice to the members.

Last week, a Division of the High Court had declined to halt presentation of the pecuniary jurisdiction report prepared by a committee of judges before the full court. The report was prepared by a committee of seven judges constituted to consider a proposal to increase the pecuniary jurisdiction of district courts from ₹2 crores to ₹20 crores.

Following the presentation of the report, the full court is reported to have accepted a proposal to raise the pecuniary jurisdiction of the district courts from ₹2 crore to ₹10 crore.

DHCBA had earlier filed a petition before the High Court to challenge the full court's decision to constitute the committee of judges to examine the proposal to increase the pecuniary jurisdiction of the district courts in the national capital from ₹2 crores to ₹20 crores. 

The committee was constituted after the coordination committee of the All District Courts Bar Association of Delhi in May 2025 wrote to Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and members of the Law Commission requesting the enhancement of the pecuniary jurisdiction of district courts from ₹2 crores to ₹20 crores. 

Last week, the Court passed an interim order rejecting the objections against presentation of the committee's report before the full court.

The Bench said pecuniary jurisdiction of the High Court is governed by the provisions of the Delhi High Court Act, 1966, which can only be amended by the parliament. However, it said the High Court is not denuded of the authority to examine issues affecting the administration of justice or to express its opinion and make recommendations in this regard.