New Delhi: Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) on Thursday called for a two-day strike to protest against the passage of bill by Rajya Sabha to increase the pecuniary jurisdiction of the district courts.
Calling for "total abstention from work" on May 8 and May 11 in protest against the decision, DHCBA said, "It was a matter of deep regret" that the bill was passed despite assurance given to the DHCBA Executive Committee by Law Minister DV Sadananda Gowda.
"It was a matter of deep regret that despite the solemn assurance given to a delegation of the Executive Committee of the DHCBA by the Union Law Minister himself the said Bill seeking to enhance the original civil pecuniary jurisdiction of the Delhi High Court would be taken up only with the said Commercial Divisions Bill and not in isolation, the said Bill was suddenly taken up and passed by the Rajya Sabha in isolation at the instance of the Law Minister himself," the DHCBA said in its resolution.
While the resolution received support of the Executive Committee of DHCBA, the President of the body did not agree with it.
Irrespective of DHCBA President's dissent, the association circulated its resolution and has also drawn up lists of the proxy counsel who would appear in the matters before each court to seek a next date of hearing.
The association's decision to go on strike came a day after the district court bar associations suspended their 15-day long strike in all six districts courts in the capital on the issue.
Lawyers of the six district courts in Delhi had called off their strike after the Rajya Sabha passed the Delhi High Court (Amendment) bill to increase pecuniary jurisdiction of the trial courts in New Delhi.
The DHCBA and the district court bar associations have been at the 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.
DHCBA in a circular said, "It may also be noted that even when the said pecuniary jurisdiction Bill was earlier taken up by the House, the same was deferred as the overwhelming sense of the House was that it should be taken up only with the Commercial Divisions Bill to which the Law Minister recorded his assent".
DHCBA honorary secretary Abhijat said the Bar "strongly condemns this abject volte-face by Union Law Minister. This conduct is unbecoming of a Union Cabinet Minister holding an important portfolio and warrants the strongest possible denunciation".
Pecuniary jurisdiction refers to the jurisdiction of a court over a suit based on the amount or value of its subject matter.
The Delhi High Court will now 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.
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