Lawyers of the Delhi High Court on Monday decided to extend for two more days their strike protesting the extension of pecuniary jurisdiction of the high court.
The Rajya Sabha recently passed the Delhi High Court Act (Amendment) Bill, which enhances the pecuniary jurisdiction of the district courts to cases from existing Rs.20 lakh to Rs.2 crore in value, against which the Delhi High Court bar associations called for a strike.
Effectively, all suits pending in the Delhi High Court, which are valued below Rs.2 lakh, will have to be sent to the six district courts if the bill is also passed by the Lok Sabha.
The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA), in a notice issued to all high court lawyers, had asked them to abstain from work on May 8 and 11 in protest against the bill. On Monday, the association extended the strike for May 12 and 13.
"The bar association today resolved to extend its call for complete absention from work on May 12 and 13 to protest against passing of the Delhi High Court (Amendment) Bill 2014 by the Rajya Sabha on May 6 in isolation and not together with the Commercial Division and Commercial Appelant Division of High Courts amd Commercial Courts Bill 2015.
"Future course of action would be decided on May 13," said the notice signed by DHCBA secretary Abhijat.
On the second day of the strike on Monday, lawyers abstained from work and proxy counsels appeared to get dates for the cases.