Delhi High Court Bar Association Calls Off Strike After Talks With Law Minister and Chief Justice
The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) has suspended its strike and directed lawyers to resume work after receiving assurances from Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court. The decision brings an end, for the present, to the lawyers’ abstention from court proceedings over the proposed enhancement of the pecuniary jurisdiction of Delhi’s district courts.
The strike had been called to oppose a proposal to increase the pecuniary jurisdiction of Delhi’s district courts from ₹2 crore to ₹10 crore. The DHCBA argued that such a move would transfer a substantial number of original civil and commercial matters from the Delhi High Court to district courts, significantly affecting the High Court’s original jurisdiction and the professional interests of advocates practising there.
The breakthrough came after separate engagements with Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya. During the discussions, the Chief Justice invited the Executive Committee of the DHCBA to submit a detailed representation outlining its concerns and assured the Bar that the issues raised would receive due consideration before any further steps are taken.
Following these assurances, the Executive Committee unanimously resolved to suspend the strike “for now”. In its communication to members, the Association thanked advocates for their support during the protest and instructed them to resume appearances before the High Court from Friday. At the same time, it clarified that the decision should not be viewed as a withdrawal of its opposition to the proposed jurisdictional changes.
The DHCBA emphasised that while courtroom abstention has ended, its campaign against the proposed enhancement of pecuniary jurisdiction will continue through institutional dialogue and formal representations. The Association maintains that transferring a large volume of high-value civil litigation to district courts could have far-reaching consequences for the administration of justice and the functioning of the Delhi High Court’s Original Side.
The suspension of the strike is expected to restore normal functioning at the Delhi High Court after several days of disruption caused by lawyers’ abstention. Litigants whose matters were delayed are likely to benefit from the resumption of regular court proceedings, although the broader policy debate over restructuring Delhi’s civil jurisdiction is expected to continue in the coming weeks.
The development reflects a preference by both the judiciary and the legal fraternity to address the contentious issue through consultation rather than prolonged industrial action. The Chief Justice’s assurance to consider the Bar’s representation has created an opportunity for further dialogue, even as the DHCBA continues to press for reconsideration of the proposed changes.
