New Delhi: After observing complete abstinence from work on Thursday, the coordination committee of district court bar associations called off its symbolic strike launched over the long-pending demand for enhancement of pecuniary jurisdiction of district courts.
“The movement will be intensified if genuine demands, which are for the benefit of public at large and litigants in specific, are not met,” said spokesperson Nagendra Kumar.
The advocates have been seeking enhancement of the pecuniary jurisdiction of district courts from the present Rs 2 crore to Rs 20 crore. The proposal was considered by Delhi High Court in its full court meeting in September 2025, following which a committee of six seniormost judges was constituted to examine the issue.
However, the bar associations alleged that no progress has been made in the past eight months. The associations argued the existing pecuniary threshold of Rs 2 crore had become outdated due to rising property prices, commercial transactions, inflation and changing socio-economic realities. They pointed out that the last enhancement in pecuniary jurisdiction — from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 2 crore — was in 2015.
According to the committee, while the High Court currently has only seven original side benches facing heavy pendency, the district judiciary has over 350 judges dealing with civil matters across Delhi. “The move will only help the litigants, because district courts are more accessible, less expensive and capable of ensuring ‘justice at doorstep’,” said advocate Dhir Singh Kasana, former secretary of the Saket Court Bar Association. He further stated that district courts also reduce delays and ease the burden on the High Court.
The decision to call off the strike came after the High Court assured the bar associations that the committee would expedite its review. The associations have warned that if the demands are not met within a reasonable timeframe, they may resort to stronger measures, including a complete boycott of court work. The enhancement is seen as crucial to improve access to justice for litigants in the national capital, where property values and commercial disputes have surged significantly over the past decade.
