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⚖️ Bihar Court Fee Calculator

Schedule I rates under Court-Fees Act 1870 as substituted by Bihar Act 4 of 2008. Maximum fee capped at ₹50,000.

State Bihar ✓ Verified Dec 2024 ⇄ Change state

Calculate Court Fee — Bihar

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⚠️ Always verify before filing. Court fees change via Government Orders (G.O.s). Rates above are last verified Dec 2024. Cross-check with the court registry or the official state gazette before paying.   Report incorrect rate →

Court Fees in Bihar: A Guide for Advocates

Bihar follows the Court-Fees Act, 1870 as substantially amended by the Court Fees (Bihar Amendment) Act, 2007 (Bihar Act 4 of 2008), which substituted both Schedule I and Schedule II entirely. The fee structure uses a seven-slab progressive system with "or part thereof" rounding and a maximum cap of ₹50,000 — making Bihar one of the most litigation-friendly states for high-value disputes.

How is court fee calculated?

  1. Determine the suit value under the relevant Section 7 provision — e.g., amount claimed for money suits, market value of share for partition, consideration for specific performance, or one year's rent for eviction.
  2. Apply the 7-slab progressive rate: 20% up to ₹100 → 25% for ₹101–₹300 → 30% for ₹301–₹500 → 45% for ₹501–₹1,000 → 24% for ₹1,001–₹5,000 → 20% for ₹5,001–₹10,000 → ₹80 per ₹5,000 above ₹10,000.
  3. Each slab uses "or part thereof" rounding — the portion falling in each slab is rounded up to the nearest unit before the rate is applied.
  4. Apply the ₹50,000 statutory maximum cap — no ad valorem fee under Schedule I can exceed ₹50,000 regardless of suit value.

Key points advocates must know

  • ₹50,000 maximum cap — one of the lowest court fee caps in India, making Bihar very litigation-friendly for high-value disputes.
  • Above ₹10,000: flat rate of ₹80 per ₹5,000 or part thereof — straightforward computation for large suits.
  • Cap is reached at approximately ₹29.90 lakh; any suit value above this is charged ₹50,000.
  • The 2007 Amendment (Bihar Act 4 of 2008) is the current governing law. The lower slab rates (up to ₹10,000) should be verified from a certified copy of the Bihar Gazette Extraordinary dated 8.1.2008.

Specific questions

Does Bihar have a maximum court fee cap? ▼

Yes. Bihar has a statutory maximum of ₹50,000 for all ad valorem fees under Schedule I, Article 1. This is one of the lowest caps in India — compare with Maharashtra's ₹3,00,000 cap or Delhi/UP which have no cap.

What is the court fee on a ₹1 crore suit in Bihar? ▼

₹50,000 (the maximum cap). Any suit value above approximately ₹29.90 lakh is capped at ₹50,000 — the same fee applies whether the claim is ₹30 lakh or ₹10 crore.

Does Jharkhand follow the same court fees as Bihar? ▼

No. Jharkhand (carved from Bihar in 2000) continues to follow the Court Fees (Bihar Amendment) Act, 1995. The 2007 Bihar Amendment (Bihar Act 4/2008) is Bihar-specific and does not apply in Jharkhand. Use a separate calculator for Jharkhand.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is court fee calculated in India? ▼

Court fees in India are calculated based on the nature and value of the suit. Money and property recovery suits attract ad valorem (percentage-based) fees on the suit value. Declaratory suits, matrimonial suits, and some other categories attract fixed fees. Each state has its own Court Fees Act with its own schedule — there is no single uniform national schedule.

What happens if I pay less court fee than required? ▼

The court will return the plaint for payment of deficit fees. You must pay the deficit and re-present the plaint. The date of re-presentation (not the original date) is treated as the date of institution — this can critically affect limitation if you are close to the deadline. Always calculate accurately and, when in doubt, pay slightly more (the court will not object).

Are court fees the same across all courts in a state? ▼

Generally yes — the state's Court Fees Act applies uniformly across all civil courts within the state. However, High Court original jurisdiction suits may have a separate fee schedule. Tribunals (NCLT, DRT, DRAT) and consumer forums have their own separate fee structures under their respective statutes.

Can court fees be waived for indigent litigants? ▼

Yes. Order XXXIII of the Code of Civil Procedure allows indigent persons to file suits without court fees. The court examines the plaintiff's financial position. If declared indigent, the fee is recoverable from the defendant if the suit succeeds. Some states also have exemptions for women litigants, SC/ST parties, government bodies, and legal aid cases.

Are court fees refundable? ▼

Generally no — court fees are non-refundable once paid. Some state Acts provide a partial refund if a suit is settled by compromise before the first hearing. Check the specific provision in your state's Court Fees Act. Consumer forum fees may also be partially refundable in certain circumstances — verify with the specific forum.
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