The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) today decided to extend by two more days its ongoing strike against passage of a bill by Rajya Sabha to increase the pecuniary jurisdiction of district courts.
As the second-day of the strike, which began on May 8, came to an end today, the DHCBA Executive Committee decided to extend it till May 13.
DHCBA Secretary Advocate Abhijat and advocate Meghna Sankhla, an Executive Committee member, confirmed that the association has decided to extend the strike till May 13 when it would review whether to continue the agitation further.
On the second-day of the protest, hardly any matter was taken up by the courts as lawyers abstained from work and only proxy counsel appeared in all courts to get the cases listed on another date.
However, in a few matters, in which litigants appeared in person, the court issued notice and sought replies from the respondents in the cases.
Pecuniary jurisdiction refers to the jurisdiction of a court over a suit based on the amount or value of its subject matter.
DHCBA had om May 7 passed a resolution, which received support of the association's Executive Committee but not of its president, calling for "total abstention from work" on May 8 and May 11 in protest against the passage of the pecuniary jurisdiction bill.
It had said that the bill was passed despite assurance given to them by Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda that it would be taken up with the Commercial Divisions Bill and not in isolation. DHCBA strongly condemned "this abject volte-face by Union Law Minister".
DHCBA and the district court bar associations have been at loggerheads for several years now over the bill - which will reduce workload of the Delhi High Court by transferring thousands of civil suits, valued up to Rs two crore, to the six district courts.
The lawyers of the six district courts were on strike since April 22 over delay in tabling of the Delhi High Court (Amendment) bill, to increase pecuniary jurisdiction of the trial courts here, and have decided to continue their protest till it is passed by the Lok Sabha.
If the bill is also passed by Lok Sabha, Delhi High Court would have jurisdiction over suits which are above the value of Rs two crore. The value earlier was Rs 20 lakh.
Consequently, the bill empowers the High Court Chief Justice to transfer any pending suit to a relevant subordinate court.
