Judges, lawyers set to clash over jurisdiction row

The row over the decision of Delhi High Court judges led by Chief Justice D Murugesan to enhance pecuniary jurisdiction of the court from R20 lakh to Rs 2 crore set the stage for full-fledged tussle between the court’s judges and the lawyers on Monday. Harish V Nair reports.

The row over the decision of Delhi High Court judges led by Chief Justice D Murugesan to enhance pecuniary jurisdiction of the court from R20 lakh to Rs 2 crore set the stage for full-fledged tussle between the court’s judges and the lawyers on Monday.

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As work in the court was paralysed with lawyers affiliated to the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) abstaining from courtrooms, a meeting of the full court (all judges of the court) condemned the “intemperate” language used by DHCBA president AS Chandhiok, who is also an additional solicitor-general in the notice announcing the strike on Sunday.

While the judges took serious note of the strike call, the DHCBA announced that the protest and boycott of chief justice’s court will continue on Tuesday.

Chandhiok had said Justice Murugesan who allegedly did not consult the Bar before writing a letter to the Centre to enhance the jurisdiction “despite an assurance”, “committed a fraudulent act”, “betrayed and stabbed the lawyers in the back” and “ceased to be a gentleman.”

A statement issued by the registrar-general of the high court said “the Full Court deprecated the tone and tenor of the notice (of DHCBA) and the intemperate language used.

It resolved that the false assertions made were unfortunate and unbecoming of the President of the DHCBA who also happens to be a law officer of Union of India”.

“The High Court resolved that it stood by the Chief Justice and other judges of the Administrative Committee and reiterated its earlier resolutions on the issue,” it said.