Delhi lawyers suspend strike

The Delhi High Court Bar Association on Wednesday called off its strike protesting the clearance of bill by the Rajya Sabha to increase pecuniary jurisdiction of the high court as parliament adjourned before it could be passed by the Lok Sabha.

The Delhi district courts lawyers also suspended their strike over delay in clearing the bill by the Lok Sabha.

The Delhi High Court (Amendment) bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha last week but deferred by the Lok Sabha for its next session as it could not be taken up on Wednesday.

Pecuniary jurisdiction refers to the jurisdiction of a court over a suit based on the amount or value of its subject matter.

The Delhi High Court will now have jurisdiction over suits which are above the value of Rs.2 crore. The value earlier was Rs.20 lakh.

Consequently, the bill empowers the chief justice of the Delhi High Court to transfer any pending suit to a relevant subordinate court.

Bar associations coordination committe chairman R.K. Wadhwa said further course of action will be decided on Thursday.

Judicial work in six city courts -- Patiala House, Tis Hazari, Rohini, Karkardooma, Saket and Dwarka -- were paralysed due to the lawyers' strike since April 22.