LS begins debate on Delhi High Court amendment bill

Taking up its first legislative business of this session after a week of disruptions, Lok Sabha today began debate on a bill to reduce the workload of the Delhi High Court by enhancing the pecuniary jurisdiction of civil suits from the existing Rs 20 lakh to Rs 2 crore.
The Delhi High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2015, once implemented, would allow transferring of civil suits, valued up to Rs 2 crore, to the nine district courts in Delhi from the high court.
Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda moved the bill for discussion, amid ruckus created by Congress members protesting against alleged inaction by the government in Lalit Modi controversy and Vyapam scam. The bill has already been cleared by the Rajya Sabha.

The Lok Sabha could not take up any legislative business in the first week of the Monsoon Session due to disruptions.
Initiating the debate, BJP member Meenakshi Lekhi said there are a high number of pending cases in courts and that people are waiting for justice for long periods.
Once the bill is passed, pending civil suits in the Delhi High Court can be distributed to district courts, she added.

AIADMK's J T Natterjee also spoke.
At present, cases involving even a small property are required to be filed before the High Court as it has the jurisdiction of civil suits involving Rs 20 lakh and above.

"This has increased the workload of the Delhi High Court ... The poor people living in Delhi also have to cover considerable distance to approach the Delhi High Court to seek justice in their cases," according to the statement of objects and reasons for the bill.
The bill was introduced by the previous UPA government in Rajya Sabha in February 2014 and was referred to the Standing Committee on Law and Personnel, which cleared it.
The NDA government approved the measure without any changes and was passed by the Upper House in the Budget session.