Practical Legal Guidance

Court Fee

The statutory fee, usually paid via stamp, required to institute or file a proceeding in an Indian court.

Detailed Meaning

Court fee is a fee payable to the government (historically via judicial stamp paper, increasingly through e-stamping/online payment) as a precondition to instituting a suit, appeal, or certain applications, calculated under the applicable Court Fees Act or a State's own court-fees legislation — commonly ad valorem (a percentage of the value of the relief claimed) for money or property suits, and a fixed amount for many petitions and applications. A plaint or petition insufficiently stamped is liable to be returned for the deficiency to be made good before it can be registered.

Authoritative Sources & Provenance

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General legal information for reference only, reviewed for accuracy but not a substitute for advice from a qualified advocate on your specific facts.

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