The recent recommendation of Delhi High Court to raise pecuniary limit of civil suits of lower courts from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 2 crore has led to a division between lawyers' bodies as lower court advocates hail it contrary to their counterparts in the High Court.
The decision taken by Chief Justice D Murugesan will lead to transfer of thousands of civil suits, valued up to Rs 2 crore, from the high court to nine district courts in the capital.
On the one hand, Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) and its President A S Chandhiok opposed the move saying the lawyers' body have not been heard and the decision was taken without any material and contrary to "well established" principles.
The Co-Ordination Committee of All Bar Associations (of district courts) hailed the decision of the Chief Justice.
"The CCABA whole heartedly take this opportunity to sincerely congratulate and thank Chief Justice D Murugesan of the Delhi High Court and all the companion judges for enhancing the original pecuniary jurisdiction in district courts of Delhi from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 2 crore," Rajiv Jai, chairman of the CCABA who is also president of New Delhi Bar Association (NDBA), said.
Mahesh Sharma, former chairman of CCABA and ex-president of Shahdara Bar Association (SBA), also supported the decision saying "the strike call of the DHCBA is being supported by handful of lawyers."
"Nowhere in the country, the High Court sits and decides the civil suit in original side as the district courts have unlimited pecuniary jurisdiction. An exception has been made in the the Delhi High Court," he said.
NDBA and SBA was supported by their counterparts at Dwarka and Saket district courts bar associations which expressed happiness and welcomed the decision of the Chief Justice of the high court.
"We are happy with the decision. Our delegation will go and meet the Chief Justice to thank him," N C Sharma, President of Dwarka Bar Association, told PTI.
"The High Court is an appellate court and original jurisdiction should be with the lower courts," Arun Rathi, Vice President of Saket District Bar Association, said.
