Jurisdiction row: Delhi HC lawyers call off work abstention for now after meet with minister
Delhi High Court lawyers have temporarily suspended their work abstention following discussions with the Union Law Minister and the Chief Justice regarding a proposed increase in district court pecuniary jurisdiction. The lawyers oppose the change, arguing it would significantly reduce the High Court's caseload and negatively impact their professional livelihoods.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights tensions between judicial efficiency reforms and the economic interests of legal practitioners, impacting the accessibility and structure of the Indian legal system.
Delhi High Court lawyers on Thursday (July 16, 2026) ended temporarily their abstention from work against a proposed enhancement in the pecuniary jurisdiction of district courts here from ₹2 crore to ₹10 crore.
The Delhi High Court Bar Association said lawyers would resume work from Friday (July 17) in view of their meetings with the Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal and Delhi High Court Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya.
In a resolution passed on Thursday (July 16), the Bar Association thanked its members for their full cooperation and said the "cause will, however, continue unabated."
Lawyers had been abstaining from work in the high court since July 14.
The resolution said the high court Chief Justice has sought representation from the Bar Association.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in