In simple terms, pecuniary jurisdiction means the financial limit of a court’s power to hear and decide a case based on the value of the claim or property involved. Every civil court in India has a set monetary limit—some courts can handle smaller disputes, while others are authorized to deal with larger, higher-value cases. For example, if a person files a lawsuit claiming ₹10 lakh, it must be filed in a court that has the legal authority to handle claims of that amount or more. This system is critical in the Indian civil justice structure because it ensures that cases are distributed efficiently among different levels of courts, preventing higher courts from being overloaded with minor cases and allowing simpler disputes to be resolved more quickly in lower courts. In essence, pecuniary jurisdiction helps maintain judicial order, fairness, and efficiency, ensuring that every case is heard by a court that is legally and practically equipped to handle it.
