Delhi High Court Judge Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav has criticized the Delhi High Court Bar Association's (DHCBA) decision to abstain from work in protest against the court's cognisance of a proposal to increase the pecuniary jurisdiction of district courts.
The DHCBA had argued that the proposal should originate from the Union law ministry, but the high court had already constituted a committee to study the issue and submit recommendations.
Justice Kaurav emphasized that concerns should be raised before the relevant authorities and that abstaining from court work is not proper.
He also questioned how proxy counsel could appear without instructions and how lawyers could abstain from court work, leaving litigants to suffer.
The DHCBA had written to the Union law ministry in May 2025, seeking enhancement of the pecuniary jurisdiction of district courts, and the high court had taken cognisance of the request despite it being addressed to the law ministry.
