Plea In Delhi High Court Seeks Enhancement Of Pecuniary Jurisdiction Of Civil Judges At District Courts

A plea has been filed before the Delhi High Court seeking rational distribution and enhancement of pecuniary jurisdiction of Civil Judges posted at all District Courts in the city for adjudicating original suits.

The present maximum pecuniary jurisdiction of civil judges is Rs. 3 lacs.

Filed by Advocate Amit Sahni, the plea states that the current pecuniary value of Rs. 3 Lacs entrusted to Civil Judges is extremely low and the same has led to "stern stagnation" of the judges who have to adjudicate Injunction Suits and petty suit for Recovery amounting upto Rs. 3 lacs only.

The plea is likely to be heard on December 1.

Sahni also states that he had written representations to the High Court as well as the Department of Law, Justice and Legal Affairs of the Delhi Government, however, the same was not decided.

"It is pertinent to note that District Courts in neighbourhood of Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Gaziabad and Faridabad enjoy unlimited pecuniary jurisdiction. District Courts in Delhi need to be equated with District courts in adjourning areas of Delhi so far as pecuniary jurisdiction is concerned," the plea reads.

It has further been averred that if the pecuniary jurisdiction of the civil judges is increased upto Rs. 20 to 30 Lacs, it would lessen the burden upon District as well as the Additional District Judges as some of such cases would then be heard by Civil Judges.

Furthermore, the plea adds that increasing the pecuniary jurisdiction would also reduce the burden of the High Court as the appeals arising out of such matters would then be filed before ADJ or the District Judges instead of the High Court.

"Because the Officers selected in Delhi Judicial Services are finest judicial officers and unlike other States, the Civil Judges at Delhi District Court are adjudicating cases having pecuniary jurisdiction upto 3 lacs only while Civil Judges in other states enjoy unlimited pecuniary jurisdiction," the plea adds.

Case Title: AMIT SAHNI v. GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR