The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) has moved the Delhi High Court challenging the decision of the full court to constitute a committee of judges to examine the proposal for enhancing the pecuniary jurisdiction of Delhi district courts from Rs 2 crore to Rs 20 crore.
DHCBA President N Hariharan mentioned the matter before the Division Bench of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, which agreed to list the petition for hearing today.
The judges’ committee was constituted pursuant to a full court resolution passed on September 2, 2025. The committee presently comprises Justice V Kameswar Rao, Justice NW Sambre, Justice Dinesh Mehta, Justice Vivek Chaudhary, Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Navin Chawla.
The controversy relates to a representation submitted in May 2025 by the Coordination Committee of All District Courts Bar Associations of Delhi to Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and members of the Law Commission, seeking enhancement of the pecuniary limits of district courts from Rs 2 crore to Rs 20 crore. Following the representation, the High Court constituted a committee to examine the issue, interact with stakeholders and submit recommendations regarding the revision of pecuniary limits.
The DHCBA has opposed the exercise and contended that the full court took suo motu cognisance of a representation that had not been addressed to the Chief Justice or the High Court administration. The petitioner contended that the communication was addressed exclusively to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice and the Law Commission, and no request for comments or consultation was made to the High Court.
It further argued that there was no administrative or statutory basis disclosed for constituting the judges’ committee. The full court decision did not record any reasons justifying the formation of the committee to examine the revision of pecuniary jurisdiction, noted the plea, adding that such a substantial increase could adversely affect the functioning of the High Court’s original civil jurisdiction while simultaneously increasing the burden on district courts in handling complex commercial and civil disputes.
In the event the proposal is implemented, civil and commercial suits valued up to Rs 20 crore would fall within the jurisdiction of district courts instead of the High Court on its original side.
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