Lawyers of Delhi High Court on strike

Lawyers of the Delhi High Court Monday observed a strike, protesting a proposed move by Chief Justice D. Murugesan to enhance the pecuniary jurisdiction limits of law suits heard by the high court from Rs.1 crore to Rs.2 crore.

If the proposal is approved, the Delhi High Court can only hear civil cases involving disputes of a minimum of Rs.2 crore, and not less than that.

Earlier the limit was Rs.20 lakh and upwards.

The office bearers of the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) manned the entry points of the court premises and asked other lawyers and colleagues not to appear before the judges.

As no lawyer was present to argue their cases, litigants appeared before the courts and took adjournments.  

The DHBA apprehends that the doubling of the pecuniary jurisdiction limits would take away work from the high court, as several matters would be transferred to the lower courts.

Justice Murugesan allegedly wrote to the central government to enhance the pecuniary jurisdiction limits without discussion with the bar, the lawyers' body said. It asked 12,000 lawyers affiliated to it not to appear in the court on Monday, and to boycott the chief justice's court till the proposal was withdrawn.  Justice Murugesan retires May 31.