E-Paper
Commercial courts get going in Delhi HC
NEW DELHI: Aimed at speedy disposal of high-value disputes, the much-awaited Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division Courts have finally started functioning
NEW DELHI: Aimed at speedy disposal of high-value disputes, the much-awaited Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division Courts have finally started functioning in the Delhi High Court.
Five judges — justices S Murlidhar, Hima Kohli, Manmohan Singh, Rajiv Sahay Endlaw and Vibhu Bakhru — took charge at the Commercial Division in the High Court on Monday.
Besides, four division benches have also started as a Commercial Appellate Division. These are the benches of chief justice G Rohini and justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal, justices Indira Banerjee and V Kameshwar Rao, justices BD Ahmad and Ashutosh Kumar, and justices Pradeep Nandajog and Pratibha Rani.
These benches took up around 200 commercial cases on Monday.
Commercial courts are already functioning at the district courts level in Delhi. Such courts are also functioning in the Bombay High Court.
These courts have been set up under the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of the High Courts Act, 2015, which was notified on January 1, 2016.
Aimed at ensuring expeditious and fair disposal of commercial disputes, these courts are expected to accelerate economic growth, improve the international image of the Indian justice system and enhance investors’ confidence in the country’s legal culture.
Noting that foreign direct investment was increasing, the chief justice of India TS Thakur had in April said: “Those who are investing are concerned about the ability of our judiciary to deal with their cases.”
After the Act came into force, pending suits and applications relating to commercial disputes involving a claim of ₹1 crore and above in high courts and civil courts were transferred to the relevant Commercial Division.
Commercial Divisions will exercise jurisdiction over all cases and applications relating to commercial disputes.
Commercial appellate division courts are to hear appeals arising out of commercial courts and commercial division courts.
It’s also mandated to hear all appeals and applications arising out of arbitration awards.
