Tis Hazari is Delhi's oldest district court complex and the home of the Central and West district courts. This guide explains which cases are heard there, how to work out your court, where the filing counters, copying agencies, legal aid and mediation offices are, how to check case status and cause lists, and how to choose an advocate who practises there. When you are ready, describe your matter in the form and an enrolment-checked advocate who appears at Tis Hazari can call you. It is free for clients.
Tis Hazari Courts, on Lala Hardev Sahai Marg near the Tis Hazari Metro station (Red Line), house the district and sessions courts of Delhi's Central and West districts. Cases arising from police stations and addresses in those districts are heard here: criminal trials, bail, cheque bounce, family cases, rent and property suits, accident claims and civil suits up to Rs 2 crore. Litigants enter through Gate No. 5. The Facilitation Centre opposite Gate No. 2 tells you which court has your case, takes copy applications and gives next dates. Legal aid is free at the Central and West district legal services offices, and the mediation centre helps settle disputes. Choose an advocate who appears regularly in the specific court that has your case, and verify enrolment with the Bar Council of Delhi.
| Address | Tis Hazari Courts, Lala Hardev Sahai Marg, Delhi 110054 |
|---|---|
| Districts housed | Central District and West District courts, under the Principal District and Sessions Judge (Headquarters) |
| Opened | 19 March 1958, inaugurated by Chief Justice A. N. Bhandari of the Punjab High Court, which then had jurisdiction over Delhi |
| Nearest Metro | Tis Hazari station on the Red Line; Kashmere Gate interchange is close by |
| Litigants' entry | Gate No. 5, with frisking and baggage screening |
| First stop for help | Facilitation Centre opposite Gate No. 2, near the Central Hall |
| Legal aid | Central District Legal Services Authority and West District Legal Services Authority, each with a front office in the complex |
| Mediation | Delhi Mediation Centre, Tis Hazari, for pending cases and disputes not yet in court |
| Official websites | Central District and West District pages on the eCourts district portal (centraldelhi.dcourts.gov.in and westdelhi.dcourts.gov.in), and the eCourts services app |
| Bar association | The Delhi Bar Association, one of the largest district court bar associations in the country, is based at Tis Hazari |
| Next Lok Adalat | Sunday, 25 October 2026; see the Delhi Lok Adalat guide |
The name means "thirty thousand". In 1783 a Sikh force said to number thirty thousand, led by Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and Baghel Singh, camped on this ground before entering Delhi. Nearly two centuries later the site became the seat of Delhi's district courts. When the complex opened in 1958, Delhi had a single judicial district and every civil and criminal court of first instance sat here. As the city grew, new complexes came up at Patiala House (1977), Karkardooma (1993), Rohini (2005), Dwarka (2008), Saket (2010) and Rouse Avenue (2019), and districts moved out one by one. The West District began functioning from Tis Hazari on 1 November 2008, and today the building is shared by the Central and West districts.
For many people in Old Delhi, Karol Bagh, Paharganj, Rajouri Garden, Punjabi Bagh, Janakpuri and the neighbouring colonies, "going to court" still means going to Tis Hazari. The complex is large, crowded and busy, and knowing your way around saves hours.
Two things decide whether your case belongs here: territory and value.
Criminal cases follow the police station. If the FIR was registered at a police station that falls in the Central or West judicial district, the case is tried by the magistrates and sessions courts at Tis Hazari. Civil cases generally follow where the defendant lives or works, where the cause of action arose, or, for land and buildings, where the property is. Broadly, the Central District covers the walled city and areas such as Chandni Chowk, Darya Ganj, Paharganj, Karol Bagh, Rajinder Nagar and Patel Nagar, and the West District covers areas such as Rajouri Garden, Punjabi Bagh, Paschim Vihar, Tilak Nagar, Hari Nagar, Janakpuri and Vikaspuri. District and police boundaries do not always match neighbourhood names, so always confirm with the police station's name, as explained below.
In Delhi, civil suits are divided by value. Suits up to Rs 3 lakh are heard by civil judges; suits above that and up to Rs 2 crore go to the district judges and additional district judges; suits above Rs 2 crore are filed directly on the original side of the Delhi High Court. Commercial disputes worth Rs 3 lakh and above are heard by the district-level commercial courts, subject to the same Rs 2 crore ceiling.
| Court | What it hears |
|---|---|
| Principal District and Sessions Judge and Additional Sessions Judges | Serious criminal trials, criminal appeals and revisions from magistrates, anticipatory bail and bail in sessions cases |
| Chief Metropolitan Magistrate and Metropolitan Magistrates | Most criminal cases at the first stage, remand and bail of arrested persons, trials of offences not reserved for the sessions court, domestic violence applications, private complaints |
| Digital courts for cheque bounce cases | Complaints under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act; Tis Hazari received seven of the 34 digital courts opened in Delhi in June 2025 |
| District Judges and Additional District Judges (civil) | Civil suits above Rs 3 lakh up to Rs 2 crore, succession and probate matters, appeals from civil judges |
| Civil Judges | Civil suits up to Rs 3 lakh, injunctions, declarations |
| Commercial courts | Commercial disputes of specified value, after pre-institution mediation where required |
| Family courts (Central and West) | Divorce, maintenance, custody, guardianship and other matrimonial matters |
| Rent Controllers and Additional Rent Controllers | Eviction petitions and disputes under the Delhi Rent Control Act |
| Small Cause courts | Small money claims and certain rent recovery suits |
| Motor Accident Claims Tribunals | Compensation claims for road accidents |
| Special courts | Courts designated for particular laws, such as child sexual abuse cases, as notified |
Labour courts, consumer commissions, the Juvenile Justice Boards and the Debt Recovery Tribunals sit elsewhere, so a matter of that kind will not be at Tis Hazari even if you live nearby.
Tis Hazari has a very large number of courtrooms spread across several floors and wings. Knowing only "Tis Hazari" is not enough; you need the court's name, the presiding officer and the room number.
Every case in a Delhi district court has a 16-character CNR (Case Number Record) number printed on summons and orders. Enter it in the eCourts services app or on the district portal and you will see the court, the judge, the next date and the last order. This is the fastest route.
Search by FIR number and police station on the eCourts services portal. Before a charge sheet is filed, matters such as remand and bail go to the duty or link magistrate for that police station. Once a charge sheet is filed, the case is registered in the regular court allotted to that police station. The Facilitation Centre at Tis Hazari can also tell you which magistrate deals with a particular police station.
The summons names the court, the room number and the date. Reach early, go to the room, and give your name to the court staff so that your presence is marked.
New civil suits, criminal complaints, bail applications and family petitions are filed at the filing counters. According to the Delhi District Courts citizen charter, separate counters handle sessions and district judge matters, civil cases, rent cases and appeals, criminal complaints, bail applications and family court cases. Many civil and family matters can also be filed online through the eCourts e-filing portal. After filing, the case is allotted to a court and you are given a date.
Thousands of advocates practise at Tis Hazari, many with chambers in the complex's lawyers' blocks. The right one for you is not the most famous name but the one who appears regularly in the kind of court your case is in, and who will actually attend your dates.
More on this in how to choose an advocate and the legal fees guide.
Describe your matter in the form at the top of this page. It goes to advocates on Mara Vakil who handle that kind of case in Delhi, whose enrolment has been checked. The advocate who accepts calls you; your number is not shown to anyone else. There is no charge to you for this, and you and the advocate settle the fee for the legal work between yourselves. You can also browse lawyers in Delhi or talk to an advocate.
Bail matters are the most urgent business at Tis Hazari. Since 1 July 2024 they are governed by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which replaced the Criminal Procedure Code.
| Situation | Where it is heard | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Arrested person produced within 24 hours | Duty or link Metropolitan Magistrate for the police station | Remand under section 187 BNSS; bail under sections 478 and 480 |
| Regular bail in a magistrate-triable case | The Metropolitan Magistrate who has the case | Section 480 BNSS |
| Regular bail in a sessions-triable case, or after a magistrate refuses | Sessions court (Additional Sessions Judge) | Section 483 BNSS |
| Anticipatory bail before arrest | Sessions court for the district; the High Court has concurrent power | Section 482 BNSS |
| Default bail when the charge sheet is late | The court that ordered custody | Section 187(3) BNSS |
Read the full process in the bail application guide, or see bail lawyers in Delhi and criminal lawyers in Delhi.
Complaints under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act form a large share of the cases in Delhi's magistrate courts. In June 2025 the Delhi High Court opened 34 digital courts across the district complexes to hear only these cases, with e-filing, virtual hearings and digitised records; seven of them are at Tis Hazari. If the cheque was presented at a bank branch in the Central or West district, or the complainant's account is maintained there, the complaint is commonly filed here.
The Central and West districts each have family courts in the complex. They hear divorce (contested and mutual consent), maintenance under section 144 BNSS and the personal laws, custody and guardianship, and restitution of conjugal rights. Domestic violence applications under the 2005 law go to the Metropolitan Magistrates, often alongside a family court case. The citizen charter mentions child-friendly rooms in the family courts for custody and visitation.
Eviction petitions for premises covered by the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 are filed before the Rent Controllers. The most common ground in Delhi is bona fide requirement of the landlord, decided through a summary procedure in which the tenant must first obtain leave to defend. Premises with rent above Rs 3,500 a month fall outside the Act and are recovered through a civil suit. See property lawyers in Delhi.
Suits for possession, partition, declaration and injunction over property in the Central or West district are filed before the civil judge or the district judge, depending on value. Urgent interim injunctions, for example to stop a construction or sale, can be sought on the first day.
Claims based on written contracts, invoices or cheques can be brought as summary suits under Order XXXVII of the Code of Civil Procedure, where the defendant must seek leave to defend. For commercial disputes, the Commercial Courts Act (section 12A) requires an attempt at mediation before filing, except where urgent interim relief is needed.
Claims for death or injury in road accidents in these districts go to the Motor Accident Claims Tribunals at Tis Hazari. The police send a detailed accident report to the tribunal, which can treat it as a claim. Insurance companies often settle at Lok Adalats.
The details below are drawn from the Delhi District Courts citizen charter for the Tis Hazari complex. Room numbers and counters can change, so confirm at the Facilitation Centre on arrival.
| Office | What it does | Location listed in the citizen charter |
|---|---|---|
| Facilitation Centre | Which court has your case, next dates, copy applications and delivery, grievances | Opposite Gate No. 2, near the Central Hall |
| Filing counters | New cases, complaints, bail applications, family petitions | Near Gate No. 1, ground floor |
| Legal aid (Central) | Free lawyer and advice | Room 287 |
| Legal aid (West) | Free lawyer and advice | Room 295 |
| Mediation Centre | Mediation of pending and pre-litigation disputes | Room 325 |
| Family courts | Matrimonial cases | Central: Room 101; West: Rooms 1 and 2 |
| Nazarat Branch | Deposits, cheques, fixed deposit receipts, withdrawals, process matters | Room 104 |
| Cash Branch | Fines, fees, witness expenses | Room 4, ground floor |
| Copying agencies | Certified copies (civil, criminal, sessions) | Rooms 316, 344 and 321 |
| Record rooms | Files of decided cases | Rooms 220, 312 and 352 |
| Small Cause and accident claim records | Copies of those records | Room 305 |
| One Stop Centre | Support for women affected by violence | Room 285 |
| Vulnerable witness room | Deposition by children and vulnerable witnesses, with video link | Room 19 |
The complex has a State Bank of India branch with an ATM, a post office, canteens, dispensaries and a police post. Ramps are provided, wheelchairs are available at the Facilitation Centre, and a litigant who finds upper floors difficult can ask the District or Sessions Judge to move the case to a ground-floor court.
Courts generally begin work at 10 am, break for lunch around 1:30 pm, and sit again till late afternoon. Copy and inspection counters keep shorter hours. Delhi's district courts follow the holiday calendar issued by the Delhi High Court, and some Saturdays are declared working days by notification.
| Type | Charges (citizen charter) | Usual time |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary copy | Rs 10 processing plus Rs 5 a page | About 7 days |
| Urgent copy | Rs 25 processing plus Rs 5 a page | About 3 days |
| Copies for persons in custody, convicts, legal aid counsel, prosecutors and amicus curiae | Free | As above |
Apply at the Facilitation Centre. People who are not parties can obtain copies of orders and judgments in decided cases, but not documents filed by the parties. Many orders are also available online through the eCourts portal soon after they are passed, though a certified copy is needed for appeals and official use.
In a pending case only the parties and their advocates can inspect the file, for a small hourly fee. Files of decided cases can be inspected by anyone on application to the officer in charge of the record rooms. Ink pens are not allowed during inspection.
Administrative information, as opposed to judicial records, can be sought under the Right to Information Act from the Public Information Officer of the district. The application fee is Rs 10. See the RTI application guide.
Court fee in Delhi is paid by e-court fee stamps. Authorised vendors sell them for smaller amounts; higher amounts are paid through the treasury or online. Each e-stamp carries a unique number that the court verifies, so it cannot be reused.
You rarely need to travel to Tis Hazari just to find out a date. Delhi's district courts are fully on the eCourts system.
Each court publishes its cause list, the list of cases fixed for the day, in advance. Search the list for your case number or your advocate's name. Cases are usually called in the order shown, but courts take up urgent matters and part-heard cases first, so stay near the courtroom.
Daily orders and judgments are uploaded to the case record. Download them from the case status page. If an order is not visible, ask the court's staff or your advocate.
If your mobile number is recorded with the case, you may receive alerts about dates. Make sure your advocate gives the correct number at filing.
Many matters can be filed online on the national e-filing portal, with court fee paid electronically. Some courts, including the digital cheque bounce courts, hear matters by video, and other courts allow video appearance on request in suitable cases. Your advocate can apply for a video link if you are unwell or outside Delhi.
The district portals and the eCourts app are the official sources; screenshots shared on messaging groups can be out of date.
The Central District Legal Services Authority and the West District Legal Services Authority both have front offices in the complex. They provide a free lawyer, advice and help with drafting for eligible people. In Delhi, the income test does not apply to women, children, SC and ST members, anyone in custody, people with disabilities, trafficking survivors, industrial workmen and several other groups; others qualify if their annual income is up to Rs 3 lakh, with a higher limit of Rs 4 lakh for senior citizens and transgender persons. A remand advocate is available in every criminal court for arrested persons without a lawyer. Check your eligibility with the free legal aid eligibility checker.
The Delhi Mediation Centre at Tis Hazari takes up disputes referred by the courts and also disputes not yet in court. Trained mediators help the parties reach a settlement in confidence. If a pending case settles in mediation, the court fee paid at filing is refundable, and the settlement is binding and enforceable. Matrimonial, money, property and commercial disputes are commonly mediated.
The National Lok Adalat on Sunday, 25 October 2026 sits at Tis Hazari among other complexes. Cheque bounce, accident, recovery, family (except divorce) and compoundable criminal cases pending here can be listed if you apply to your court in advance, and traffic challans can be settled with a slip downloaded from 19 October. Details are in the Delhi Lok Adalat guide.
Inform your advocate in advance. In many matters the advocate can seek exemption from your personal appearance for that date. In criminal cases, unexplained absence of the accused can lead to warrants, so never simply stay away.
Names are invented; the facts are typical of matters at Tis Hazari.
Karan was arrested on a theft complaint and produced the next day before the link magistrate for the Rajouri Garden police station at Tis Hazari. His family had no lawyer, so the remand advocate appeared for him. That evening they found a criminal practitioner through Mara Vakil, who filed a bail application with Karan's job letter and his father as surety. Bail was granted two days later.
Mrs Arora let a shop in Karol Bagh at Rs 2,800 a month under an old tenancy covered by the Delhi Rent Control Act. She wanted it for her son's business. Her advocate filed an eviction petition on the ground of bona fide requirement before the Rent Controller at Tis Hazari. The tenant applied for leave to defend; the Rent Controller refused leave after examining the documents, and an eviction order followed.
A wholesaler received a Rs 6 lakh cheque from a retailer that bounced. He sent a notice within 30 days of the return memo, waited 15 days, and filed a complaint that went to one of the digital cheque bounce courts at Tis Hazari. The summons carried a payment link. The retailer paid Rs 6.2 lakh, including costs agreed with the complainant, within two months, and the case was closed.
Pooja, separated from her husband, applied for maintenance for herself and her daughter before the West District family court, and for protection and residence orders under the domestic violence law before a magistrate. The family court referred the couple to the mediation centre, where they agreed on monthly maintenance and visitation. The agreement was recorded and both cases ended.
A delivery rider was injured in a collision. The police forwarded the accident report to the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal at Tis Hazari. His advocate filed medical bills and proof of income, and the insurer offered a settlement at the Lok Adalat that matched the likely award.
Three siblings disagreed over their late father's house. One filed a partition suit before the district judge. The court referred them to mediation, where they agreed that one sibling would buy out the others at a value fixed by a valuer, avoiding years of litigation.
| Stage | What happens | Your role |
|---|---|---|
| FIR and investigation | The police investigate; arrests, remand and bail come up before the magistrate | Bail if arrested; cooperate with lawful notices |
| Charge sheet | The police file the final report; the magistrate takes cognizance | Appear on summons, obtain copies of the charge sheet |
| Committal | Cases triable by the sessions court are sent there | Appear before the sessions court |
| Charge | The court frames charges or discharges the accused | Advocate argues on charge |
| Prosecution evidence | Witnesses examined and cross-examined | Attend every date |
| Statement of the accused | The accused explains the evidence against them | Answer the court's questions |
| Defence evidence and arguments | Defence witnesses, if any, then final arguments | Help your advocate with facts |
| Judgment | Acquittal or conviction and sentence | Appeal lies to the sessions court or High Court |
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Filing and scrutiny | Plaint filed with court fee; objections removed |
| Summons and written statement | Defendant served and files a reply, normally within 30 days, extendable within limits |
| Interim applications | Injunctions and other urgent relief decided |
| Admission and denial of documents | Parties admit or deny each other's documents |
| Issues | The court frames the questions to be decided |
| Evidence | Affidavits of witnesses, cross-examination, often before a local commissioner |
| Final arguments and judgment | Decree passed; appeal lies to the next court |
| Execution | The winning party enforces the decree |
Mediation can be suggested by the judge whenever settlement looks possible, and a settled suit closes on a recorded compromise.
| Court complex | Districts or courts |
|---|---|
| Tis Hazari | Central and West districts |
| Patiala House | New Delhi district |
| Karkardooma | East, North East and Shahdara districts |
| Rohini | North and North West districts |
| Saket | South and South East districts |
| Dwarka | South West district |
| Rouse Avenue | Special courts, including those for CBI cases and cases involving legislators, and the DSLSA's central office |
If the police station or property is in another district, your case will be at that complex. For an overview of all Delhi forums, including the High Court and tribunals, see lawyers in Delhi.
Free legal aid is open to every woman, whatever she earns. The One Stop Centre in the complex supports women affected by violence with counselling and coordination with the police and legal services. In sexual offence cases the court must record the survivor's statement in a manner that protects her identity, and the vulnerable witness room allows deposition without facing the accused. If you feel unsafe or harassed in the complex, report it to the court staff, the police post or the district's administration.
Ask for your case to be heard in a ground-floor court if stairs are a problem, and request an early hearing on account of age; many courts accommodate this. Senior citizens in Delhi have a higher income limit of Rs 4 lakh for legal aid. Disputes with children over residence and maintenance can also go to the maintenance tribunal under the Senior Citizens Act; see the bedakhli process guide.
You do not have to attend every date in a civil case. A relative can act under a power of attorney for many purposes, and your advocate can seek exemption from personal appearance or a video link for your evidence. In criminal cases, the accused's presence is required more often, but exemption can be sought for good reason. Keep your advocate's number and the CNR handy, and check dates online.
Companies and firms appear through an authorised representative with a board resolution or authority letter. For commercial disputes, remember that mediation has to be tried before filing unless urgent relief is needed, and the strict timelines for filing written statements under the commercial courts law.
If you appear at Tis Hazari, clients across Central and West Delhi are looking for you every day, often in a hurry. Mara Vakil lets you create a free, enrolment-checked profile that lists your courts and practice areas factually, as the Bar Council of India's rules permit, without ratings or paid placement. Requests from people with matters in your courts reach you, and you decide which to accept. There is no commission on your fees.
If you need an advocate for a matter at Tis Hazari, use the form at the top of this page or talk to an advocate. Your request goes to enrolment-checked advocates on Mara Vakil who handle that kind of case in Delhi, and the one who accepts calls you. It is free for you, and you and the advocate settle the fee for the legal work between yourselves. Those who cannot pay for a lawyer can get one free from the legal services offices in the same complex.
Related pages: lawyers in Delhi, criminal lawyers, bail lawyers, divorce lawyers, family lawyers, property lawyers, civil lawyers, consumer lawyers and cyber lawyers in Delhi; the Delhi stamp duty calculator; and all legal calculators.
Mara Vakil is a technology platform, not a law firm, and is not connected with the Delhi District Courts.
Advocates' fees vary widely with experience, the type of court and the work involved, and they are agreed between you and the advocate. Other expenses are smaller but add up over a case.
| Expense | When it arises | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Court fee | Filing a suit, petition or application | Fixed or based on the value of the claim; paid by e-court fee stamp |
| Process fee | Issuing summons and notices | Small amounts per party, plus postage or courier where used |
| Affidavits and notarisation | Pleadings, applications, evidence | Oath commissioners and notaries in the complex charge per attestation |
| Typing and photocopying | Throughout | Sets for the court, the other side and your record |
| Certified copies | Orders, judgments, evidence | Rs 5 a page plus processing; urgent copies cost a little more |
| Surety arrangements | Bail | A surety must show property or income documents; no fee is payable to the court for this |
| Travel and time | Every date | Often the largest hidden cost; online status checks and video appearance help |
Ask your advocate at the start for a rough budget of these expenses for your type of case, and keep all receipts.
There is no fixed answer; it turns on how busy the court is, how many witnesses each side calls, and how often dates are adjourned. Some broad patterns:
You can shorten a case by keeping documents ready, avoiding unnecessary adjournments, and considering mediation or Lok Adalat settlement at the right moment.
Take a short written note of what happened, the main papers arranged by date, and any summons or notice you have received. If the advocate's answers are vague, it is fine to speak to another before deciding.
| Problem | Court at Tis Hazari | First step |
|---|---|---|
| Family member arrested | Duty or link Metropolitan Magistrate, then the trial court | Find the police station and FIR; ask for the remand advocate or engage a criminal lawyer for bail |
| Fear of arrest after a complaint | Sessions court (anticipatory bail) | Collect the complaint or FIR details and move an anticipatory bail application |
| Police not registering an FIR | Metropolitan Magistrate | Complain to senior officers in writing, then apply to the magistrate under section 175(3) of the BNSS |
| Cheque bounced | Digital cheque bounce court or Metropolitan Magistrate | Send a legal notice within 30 days of the bank's memo |
| Wife or children need maintenance | Family court | File a maintenance petition with income details of both sides |
| Domestic violence | Metropolitan Magistrate | Contact the protection officer or file an application for protection and residence orders |
| Divorce by consent | Family court | Agree terms, file a joint petition |
| Tenant not vacating an old tenancy | Rent Controller | Eviction petition on a ground under the Delhi Rent Control Act |
| Someone building on or occupying your land | Civil court | Suit for injunction or possession with an urgent stay application |
| Money owed under an invoice or contract | Civil or commercial court | Legal notice, then a summary suit; commercial disputes need a mediation attempt first |
| Injury or death in a road accident | Motor Accident Claims Tribunal | Get the accident report and medical records; file or pursue the claim |
| Need a succession certificate | District judge | Petition with the death certificate, list of heirs and details of debts and securities |
| Matter | Documents |
|---|---|
| Bail | FIR copy, arrest memo, ID and address proof of the accused, surety's ID and property or income documents, proof of job or family ties |
| Cheque bounce (complainant) | Original cheque, bank return memo, copy of the legal notice with postal proof, proof of the debt, bank statement |
| Maintenance | Marriage proof, children's birth certificates, income proof of both spouses, expenses, any earlier complaints |
| Mutual divorce | Marriage certificate or proof, address proofs, photographs, settlement terms, details of children and assets |
| Rent eviction | Ownership or title papers, rent agreement or receipts, proof of the ground relied on, notices |
| Property suit | Title documents, mutation, site plan, photographs, police complaints, tax receipts |
| Accident claim | FIR, medical records and bills, income proof, vehicle and insurance details of the offending vehicle, death certificate if applicable |
| Succession certificate | Death certificate, list of legal heirs with addresses, details of bank deposits, shares or other debts and securities |
Carry photocopies and keep originals with you unless the court asks for them. Your advocate will tell you what to file.
Tis Hazari is crowded, and tempers can run high on busy days. A few habits make a visit smoother.
Most people who work at Tis Hazari, from judges to clerks to advocates, are there to help cases move. Coming prepared, knowing your court and keeping your papers in order is the best way to make that easier for everyone.
On Lala Hardev Sahai Marg, Delhi 110054, near the Tis Hazari Metro station on the Red Line and close to Kashmere Gate.
The Central District and West District courts of Delhi.
Tis Hazari on the Red Line. Kashmere Gate, an interchange for the Red, Yellow and Violet Lines, is also close.
Gate No. 5, according to the Delhi District Courts citizen charter. Expect security checks.
The complex was inaugurated on 19 March 1958 by Chief Justice A. N. Bhandari of the Punjab High Court.
The name means thirty thousand, after a Sikh force said to number thirty thousand that camped on the site in 1783.
Check the police station or the address. Cases from Central and West district police stations, and civil suits about property or parties in those districts, are heard here. Searching by CNR or FIR on the eCourts app confirms it.
Search the case on the eCourts app by CNR, or ask at the Facilitation Centre opposite Gate No. 2.
Use the eCourts services app or the Central or West district portal on the eCourts district website, and search by CNR, case number, party name, advocate name or FIR.
A 16-character Case Number Record that uniquely identifies a case on the eCourts system. It is printed on summons and orders.
Each court's cause list is published on the district portal and the eCourts app. Search it for your case number or advocate's name.
Apply at the Facilitation Centre. The citizen charter lists Rs 10 processing plus Rs 5 a page for an ordinary copy in about 7 days, and Rs 25 processing plus Rs 5 a page for an urgent copy in about 3 days.
Orders are usually uploaded to the case record on the eCourts portal. For appeals and official use, apply for a certified copy.
The Central and West District Legal Services Authorities have front offices in the complex; the citizen charter lists Rooms 287 and 295.
Women, children, SC and ST members, persons in custody, persons with disabilities and others regardless of income, and others with annual income up to Rs 3 lakh (Rs 4 lakh for senior citizens and transgender persons).
Yes. The Delhi Mediation Centre at Tis Hazari handles court-referred and pre-litigation disputes. Court fee is refundable if a pending case settles there.
Before the magistrate who has the case, or the sessions court for sessions-triable offences and after refusal by the magistrate. The filing counters and your advocate will route it.
Before the sessions court for that district at Tis Hazari, under section 482 of the BNSS. The Delhi High Court also has concurrent power.
Yes. A remand advocate from the legal services authority is available in every criminal court for anyone produced without a lawyer.
Yes. Seven of Delhi's 34 digital courts for Negotiable Instruments Act cases, opened in June 2025, are at Tis Hazari.
Yes. The offence is compoundable, and cases can be settled in court, in mediation or at the Lok Adalat on 25 October 2026.
Yes. Both the Central and West districts have family courts in the complex, hearing divorce, maintenance and custody matters.
Applications under the 2005 domestic violence law go to the Metropolitan Magistrates.
Before the Rent Controllers and Additional Rent Controllers for premises covered by the Delhi Rent Control Act, and in civil courts for other premises.
It does not apply to premises let at more than Rs 3,500 a month. Those tenancies are dealt with through civil suits.
Up to Rs 2 crore. Suits above that are filed on the original side of the Delhi High Court.
Civil judges. Suits above Rs 3 lakh and up to Rs 2 crore go to district judges and additional district judges.
Yes. Motor Accident Claims Tribunals for the Central and West districts sit in the complex.
No. Consumer complaints go to the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions, which sit separately.
Labour courts and industrial tribunals sit separately. Check the forum for your matter before travelling.
Courts generally begin at 10 am and break for lunch around 1:30 pm. Copy and inspection counters keep shorter hours.
Parking is very limited. Use the Metro, a bus or a taxi where possible.
Usually yes, but it must be silent or off in courtrooms, and photography and recording are not allowed.
The citizen charter lists a State Bank of India branch with an ATM in the complex.
A litigant who finds upper floors difficult can ask the District or Sessions Judge to move the case to a ground-floor court, according to the citizen charter.
Look for someone who appears regularly in the kind of court your case is in, verify enrolment with the Bar Council of Delhi, and agree the fee in writing. On Mara Vakil you can describe your matter free and enrolment-checked advocates can respond.
No. Professional rules do not allow advocates to solicit work through touts. Use the Facilitation Centre, legal aid, or a verified listing.
Fees vary with experience and the work, and are agreed between you and the advocate. Ask for a written fee note covering appearances, drafting and other charges.
Some courts, including the digital cheque bounce courts, hear matters by video, and others may allow video appearance on request. Ask your advocate to apply.
In criminal cases, the court can issue warrants. In civil cases, the suit can be dismissed or proceed ex parte. Inform your advocate in advance and seek exemption if you cannot attend.
Yes. Tis Hazari is one of the seven district complexes where the National Lok Adalat sits on 25 October 2026.
The Delhi Bar Association is based at Tis Hazari.
Yes, through an authorised representative with a board resolution or authority letter.
In civil matters, often yes, through a power of attorney holder and an advocate, with video appearance for evidence where allowed. Criminal matters need more attendance.
No. Mara Vakil is a technology platform, not a law firm, and is not connected with the Delhi District Courts. It helps you find an advocate.
Many civil, family and cheque bounce matters can be filed through the national e-filing portal, with court fee paid online. Your advocate can e-file and the case is then allotted to a court at Tis Hazari.
The help desk opposite Gate No. 2, near the Central Hall, which tells you which court has your case, gives next dates, takes copy applications and receives grievances.
No. Judges hear parties only in court, through the formal process. Anyone who offers to arrange a private meeting with a judge is misleading you.
The citizen charter lists a One Stop Centre in the complex for women affected by violence, and a vulnerable witness room for sensitive depositions.
Oath commissioners and notaries work in and around the complex and attest affidavits for a small charge. Carry ID and the document unsigned, to sign in their presence.
The case stays in the same court and is taken up by the successor judge. The CNR and case record do not change, so check status online for the next date.
This page gives general information based on the sources listed, as checked on 16 October 2026. Room numbers, counters, fees and court allocations can change; confirm at the Facilitation Centre or on the district portal. Mara Vakil is a technology platform, not a law firm, does not give legal advice, and is not connected with the Delhi District Courts. Read our disclaimer.
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