Bill placed in JS to raise lower court judges’ pecuniary jurisdiction for trying civil suits

The Civil Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was placed in Parliament on Tuesday to raise the pecuniary jurisdiction of lower court judges for disposing of the civil cases.

Law Minister Anisul Huq placed the Bill and it was sent to the respective Parliamentary Standing Committee for further scrutiny. The Committee was asked to submit its report within three days.

As per the bill, the pecuniary jurisdictions of the civil courts will be increased.

The higher threshold of the pecuniary jurisdiction was increased at Tk 15 lakh instead of the existing Tk 2 lakh for an assistant judge, while Tk 25 lakh in place of Tk 4 lakh for a senior assistant judge in case of trying civil suits, according to the Bill.

In case of hearing the appeals of the civil suits, the financial jurisdiction was raised to Tk 5 crore instead of the existing Tk 5 lakh for a district judge.

If the Bill is passed, an assistant judge can try civil cases having asset value of maximum Tk 15 lakh each, while a senior assistant judge can try a civil suit having asset value of maximum Tk 25 lakh.

Besides, a provision was incorporated in the proposed law to transfer the appeals, which are pending with the High Court against the decree or order made by joint district judges in the civil suits involving maximum Tk 5 crore, to the district judge court.