Pecuniary jurisdiction
Full Text
Save in so far as is otherwise expressly provided, nothing herein contained shall operate to give any Court jurisdiction over suits the amount or value of the subject-matter of which exceeds the pecuniary limits (if any) of its ordinary jurisdiction.
Plain English Summary
Section 6 mandates that no civil court can entertain a suit where the value of the subject matter exceeds the pecuniary limits of its ordinary jurisdiction. It establishes pecuniary competence as an absolute ceiling on a court's authority to try a suit.
Key Legal Elements
- Statutory Ceiling: Civil Courts cannot entertain suits whose subject-matter valuation exceeds their prescribed pecuniary limit.
- Interplay with Section 15: Every suit must be instituted in the court of lowest grade competent to try it, respecting Section 6 limitations.
- Valuation Principle: Governed primarily by the plaintiff's valuation in the plaint, subject to revision by the court if deliberately undervalued/overvalued.
- Waiver & Objection (Section 21(2)): Objection regarding lack of pecuniary jurisdiction must be taken at the earliest opportunity in the court of first instance.
Practical Note
Pecuniary jurisdiction is determined prima facie by the relief claimed and bona fide valuation in the plaint under the Suits Valuation Act and Court Fees Act. If representing a defendant, any objection to pecuniary jurisdiction must be raised under Section 21(2) at the earliest opportunity (at or before settlement of issues); otherwise, appellate and revisional courts will reject the objection absent demonstrable failure of justice.
हिंदी पाठ
वहां के सिवाय जहां कि अन्यथा अभिव्यक्त रूप से उपबन्धित है, इसमें की कोई भी बात किसी न्यायालय को ऐसे वादों पर अधिकारिता देने वाली न होगी जिनकी विषय-वस्तु की रकम या मूल्य उसकी मामूली अधिकारिता की धन-संबंधी सीमाओं (यदि कोई हों) से अधिक है।