The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) announced on Thursday that it has suspended, for the time being, its call for lawyers to abstain from work. The abstention had been initiated in opposition to the government’s proposal to raise the pecuniary jurisdiction of Delhi’s District Courts from two crore rupees to ten crore rupees. The decision to suspend the strike came after two separate meetings held by the Bar Association’s leadership.
First, a delegation of the DHCBA met with the Union Law Minister, Arjun Ram Meghwal, to convey the concerns of the legal fraternity regarding the proposed amendment. Second, the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, convened a meeting with the Executive Committee of the Bar Association. During this meeting, the Chief Justice requested that the Committee submit a formal representation on the matter. He also assured the Committee that the representation would be examined carefully by the appropriate authorities.
In a circular addressed to its members, the DHCBA explained that the Executive Committee, after deliberating on the outcomes of both meetings, unanimously resolved to suspend the strike call “for now”. The circular noted that lawyers had been refraining from court work for three consecutive days in protest of the proposed enhancement. The Association expressed gratitude to its members for their cooperation and solidarity during the period of abstention.
The Bar Association reiterated that the suspension does not signify a withdrawal of its opposition to the proposal. It stated that “the efforts of the Bar for the cause will however continue unabated”, indicating that the DHCBA intends to pursue the issue through continued dialogue and representation.
The DHCBA had originally objected to the enhancement on the grounds that it would have far‑reaching ramifications for the justice delivery system. It argued that increasing the pecuniary limit would substantially diminish the Original Side jurisdiction of the Delhi High Court. According to the Association’s assessment, nearly seventy percent of the cases currently filed on the Original Side would be transferred to the District Courts if the revised limit were implemented. The Bar contended that such a shift would adversely affect the practice, livelihood and professional interests of a large number of advocates who regularly appear before the High Court’s Original Side.
The Association further highlighted that the proposed change could alter the balance of workload between the High Court and the subordinate courts, potentially impacting the quality of adjudication and the accessibility of justice for litigants. It urged the authorities to consider the views of the practicing bar before finalising any amendment to the pecuniary jurisdiction.
Following the meetings, the Chief Justice’s office confirmed that the representation submitted by the DHCBA would be placed before the relevant committee tasked with reviewing judicial reforms. The Law Minister’s office indicated that the feedback received from the Bar would be taken into account while finalising the proposal.
The temporary suspension of the strike reflects the Bar Association’s willingness to engage constructively with the executive and judicial branches while maintaining its stance on the issue. The DHCBA has signalled that it will monitor further developments and resume its protest actions if the assurances given are not translated into concrete steps that address its concerns.