Delhi HC lawyers extend boycott over pecuniary limit dispute

New Delhi, Jul 15 (PTI) The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) has decided to extend its abstention from work to Thursday in protest against a proposed enhancement in the pecuniary jurisdiction of district courts here from Rs 2 crore to Rs 10 crore. In a resolution passed in its emergent meeting on Wednesday, the DHCBA said, "It has been unanimously resolved to further continue to abstain from work on 16.07.2026. "Members are therefore requested to abstain from appearing, both physically and virtually, before the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi on 16.07.2026," the resolution stated. Lawyers have been abstaining from work in the high court since July 14. Enhancement of the district courts' pecuniary jurisdiction, or financial limit, from Rs 2 crore to Rs 20 crore has been a long-pending demand of the Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations of Delhi. However, the Delhi High Court Bar Association has opposed the move, citing its impact on the lawyers' practice, livelihood and professional interests. Currently, the high court hears civil and commercial matters valued above Rs 2 crore, but with the proposed change, district courts will be able to hear cases valued up to Rs 10 crore. Earlier, the DHCBA had resolved to abstain from work on July 14 in view of the high court's full court favouring the enhancement of pecuniary jurisdiction of the district courts from Rs 2 crore to Rs 10 crore. In the resolution passed by its executive committee on July 13, the DHCBA said that the proposed enhancement would substantially impact the justice delivery system as well as the practice, livelihood and professional interest of a large number of its members because it would reduce the cases in the high court by nearly 70 per cent. On July 10, the high court's division bench of Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Tejas Karia had dismissed a plea by the DHCBA seeking a stay on the presentation of the "Pecuniary Jurisdiction Report" before the full court following the coordination committee's representation on the issue. According to the DHCBA, the high court could not have acted on the representation, as the power to enhance the pecuniary jurisdiction was with Parliament since it involved amending the Delhi High Court Act. PTI ADS RHL