Delhi courts grapple with judge shortages amid jurisdiction hike and upcoming judicial exam

A seven‑judge committee of the Delhi High Court has recommended raising the pecuniary jurisdiction of Delhi district courts to ₹10 crore, shifting civil suits valued up to ₹9,99,99,999 from the High Court’s Original Side benches. If adopted, the change would require amending Section 5(2) of the Delhi High Court Act, 1966, and would raise the threshold for filing directly in the High Court from ₹2 crore to ₹10 crore.

At the same time, the Delhi High Court announced 27 vacancies in the Delhi Higher Judicial Service, scheduling a preliminary exam for 26 July 2026. Hundreds of district‑court judges have taken leave just before the exam, leaving courtrooms in Patiala House, Saket, Tis Hazari, Rohini, Dwarka and Karkardooma largely empty. Recent Supreme Court rulings expanding promotion pathways for serving judicial officers have intensified this staffing shortfall, raising concerns about the trial courts’ ability to maintain efficiency and timely justice.