Trial courts' pecuniary jurisdiction: Lawyers strike continues

The ongoing strike called by the lawyers against the delay in tabling in Parliament the amended Bill regarding the enhancement of pecuniary jurisdiction of trial courts continued today as the advocates claimed that though the Law Minister assured them to pass the bill, no time frame was given.
The strike, which will continue tomorrow also, disrupted the proceedings in all the six district courts in the national capital today.
The majority of judicial work in the six district courts -- Patiala House, Tis Hazari, Karkardooma, Rohini, Saket and Dwarka -- remained suspended due to the strike.
"Around thousand lawyers marched to the residence of the Union Law Minster today. There our delegation met him outside his residence. We showed him his assurance letter given to us during the last session. He assured us that the bill will be passed but did not give any time frame, even after repeated requests," Advocate RK Wadhwa, Chairman of coordination committee of all district courts bar associations here, said.

He said the lawyers have decided to abstain from work tomorrow also due to the delay in the tabling of the amended Bill in Parliament.
"If they (government) will not do what they have assured us, we will intensify the protest," he said.
The lawyers' body said that the full bench of Delhi High Court had recommended to Centre that pecuniary jurisdiction be enhanced from the existing Rs 20 lakh to Rs two crore, but nothing has been done till date.