Srinagar, May 16:The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has revised the pecuniary jurisdiction limits of Civil Judges across the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh and simultaneously announced a 15-day summer vacation schedule for district courts functioning in the Jammu summer zone.
According to a notification issued by the office of the Registrar General of the High Court, the revised pecuniary limits have been notified under Section 21 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Courts Act, 1977.
As per the new arrangement, all Civil Judges (Senior Division) across J&K and Ladakh have been empowered to hear and decide civil suits valued up to ₹20 lakh within their respective territorial jurisdictions.
Similarly, Civil Judges (Junior Division) will now be competent to hear civil suits valued up to ₹5 lakh within their local jurisdiction.
The revised jurisdiction limits will come into effect from June 1, 2026.
The High Court has also clarified that all civil suits pending before various courts as on May 31, 2026, shall continue to remain in the same courts where they are presently pending, irrespective of the revised pecuniary limits.
The notification was issued by Registrar General M.K. Sharma and has been circulated among judicial officers and concerned departments for implementation and publication in the Government Gazette.
Meanwhile, the High Court has also declared summer vacations for district courts located in the Jammu summer zone.
According to a separate notification issued by the Registrar General’s office, district courts in the summer zone of Jammu province will remain closed for 15 days from June 8 to June 22, 2026, including both days.
However, several courts located in hilly and temperate regions have been exempted from the vacation schedule. These include courts functioning in Districts Doda and Kishtwar, courts at Batote, Gool, Banihal and Ukhral in Ramban district, and courts located in Bani area of Kathua district.
The High Court has directed Principal District and Sessions Judges and Chief Judicial Magistrates of the concerned districts to make adequate arrangements for hearing and disposal of urgent criminal matters during the vacation period to ensure that essential judicial work is not affected.
