Courts financial jurisdiction raised

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JULY 30.

In a major decision, the Delhi Cabinet today approved a proposal for enhancement of the financial jurisdiction of District and Subordinate Courts from Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs. 20 lakhs. The Cabinet also approved the Annual Plan of Delhi for 2001-02 and fixed it at Rs. 3,800 crores.

At a meeting of the Cabinet chaired, by the Finance Minister, Mr. Mahinder Singh Saathi, it extended its approval for enhancement of original civil pecuniary jurisdiction of district and subordinate courts. The District and Subordinate Courts would have the jurisdiction to decide suits upto the value of Rs. 20 lakhs in place of the present Rs. 5 lakhs. The Cabinet felt that limit should be increased to overcome the problems of arrears in the High Court. The Cabinet also decided that the pecuniary appellate jurisdiction of the District Judge should be raised from the existing Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 3 lakhs for the same reasons. Following the decision of the Cabinet, the Delhi High Court Act would also be amended.

The decision is being welcomed as a major step towards dealing with the problem of work overload and increasing cases of arrears. With the increase in the jurisdiction limit, a large number of cases would be shifted to the District and Subordinate courts providing not only relief to litigants but also reduce the oustandings in the High Court. Legal experts have termed this extension as a boon for litigants who would now have the opportunity to get justice at the district level.

Through another decision, the Cabinet approved the Annual Plan for the next financial year and fixed it at Rs. 3,800 crores. This proposed Plan would be sent to the Planning Commission for formal approval. The Annual Plan for 2001-02 provides Rs. 1,175 crores under the revenue head, Rs. 1,169.40 crores under the Capital Head and Rs. 1,445.20 crores under Loan Head. The 2000-01 Annual Plan for Delhi was approved by the Planning Commission at Rs. 3,300.

The Cabinet also decided that as per orders of the High Court, application from industrial units operating in local commercial areas may be invited for allotment of alternate industrial accommodation under the relocation scheme. It might be convenient to invite fresh applications from the units located in local commercial areas making it clear that the cut-off date would be the same and those who have applied earlier need not apply again. This is expected to provide substantial relief to a large number of people who had missed the bus while applying for alternate land during 1996.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Other States
Next     : New land auction for health sector