Lawyers’ protest stalls work at courts

Court proceedings were affected on Monday with lawyers protesting the “excessive” hike in court fees in the six district courts in Delhi.

Court proceedings were affected on Monday with lawyers protesting the “excessive” hike in court fees in the six district courts in Delhi.

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Work in the district courts at Tis Hazari, Patiala House, Saket, Dwarka, Rohini and Karkardooma was disrupted as a result of the lawyers’ protest. Several litigants returned home without any progress in their cases.

Chief minister Sheila Dikshit, however, justified the hike in court fees, saying the new rates were in tune with the instructions of Delhi High Court, and the additional revenue generated would facilitate implementation of the e-Court Project in the Capital.

“The rates have been revised after a long period of 55 years. The intention behind revision is not to fill coffers of the government but to facilitate submission of court fees,” she said.

However, All District Court Bar Association Co-ordination Committee chairman RN Vats alleged the government raised the court fees by about 100 times in cases. He added that the Court Fee (Amendment) Act, 2012, was unjustly notified.