Cabinet may enhance civil suits jurisdiction in Delhi

The jurisdiction of civil suits of Delhi's lower courts could be enhanced from the existing Rs 20 lakh to Rs 2 crore.
The Union Cabinet in its meeting tomorrow is likely to take a call on the Law Ministry proposal.
The move would require amending the Delhi High Court Act, 1966 to increase the jurisdiction of the capital's lower courts in civil cases, including property disputes, Law Ministry sources said.
As of now, all civil disputes, including property cases of more than Rs 20 lakh, are settled by the High Court. Disputes below Rs 20 lakh value are taken up by lower courts.

According to the proposal, as the pecuniary jurisdiction of lower courts is limited, it puts a burden on litigants as well as on the high court machinery which is already overburdened with cases.
Since there are nine district courts, it is easier for litigants to approach them and the cost of litigation is also less there.

Once implemented, the move will lead to transfer of thousands of civil suits, valued up to Rs 2 crore, from the high court to the nine district courts in the national capital.
The move to amend the Delhi High Court Act comes in the wake of a recommendation made by former Delhi High Court Chief Justice D Murugesan to this effect last year.

The then Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had accepted the recommendation and forwarded it to the Centre for further action.
The issue of pecuniary jurisdiction has been agitating the lawyers of lower courts who had gone on a strike protesting against not being able to take up civil suits beyond Rs 20 lakh.
However, high court lawyers had also gone on a strike soon after Justice Murugesan gave his recommendations to the government to enhance the pecuniary jurisdiction of lower courts.
They feel it will lead to transfer of thousands of civil suits from the high court to district courts.