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⚖️ Delhi Court Fee Calculator

Calculate court fees for Delhi civil courts and Delhi High Court under the Court-Fees Act, 1870. The 2012 Delhi Amendment was struck down — original 1870 rates apply.

State Delhi ✓ Verified Mar 2026 ⇄ Change state

Calculate Court Fee — Delhi

All Property & Recovery Declaratory & Injunction Family & Estate High Court Other Suits
Enter the amount as specified by the applicable rule above
Court Fee Payable
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⚠️ Always verify before filing. Court fees change via Government Orders (G.O.s). Rates above are last verified Mar 2026. Cross-check with the court registry or the official state gazette before paying.   Report incorrect rate →

Court Fees in Delhi: A Guide for Advocates

Court fees in Delhi are governed by the Court-Fees Act, 1870 (Central Act No. 7 of 1870) — one of the oldest court fee statutes in India. An important legal development: the Court Fees (Delhi Amendment) Act, 2012 (Delhi Act 11 of 2012), which had drastically increased fee rates, was declared unconstitutional by the Delhi High Court on 9th October 2013 in Delhi High Court Bar Association v. Government of NCT of Delhi (WP(C) No. 4770/2012). The Delhi Government's Special Leave Petition was also dismissed by the Supreme Court on 12th November 2013. As a result, the original 1870 Act rates continue to apply in Delhi. Unlike states such as Maharashtra, the 1870 Act has NO maximum fee cap — the court fee increases progressively without any ceiling for high-value suits.

How is court fee calculated?

  1. Identify the suit type — money/property recovery (ad valorem under Schedule I Article 1), matrimonial (fixed under Schedule II), probate (bracket rate under Schedule I Article 9), or succession certificate (2.5% under Article 10).
  2. For ad valorem suits, determine the "value of the suit" — the amount claimed for money suits; market value of the share for partition; one year's rent for landlord-tenant; the contract price for specific performance.
  3. The 1870 Act uses a unit-based ceiling rounding system with very granular slabs starting from Rs. 1 per Rs. 5. Each slab portion is rounded up to the nearest prescribed unit before the rate is applied.
  4. IMPORTANT: The 2012 Delhi Amendment Act has been struck down by Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court. The calculator uses the valid 1870 Act rates. Do not use the 2012 Amendment rates.
  5. Court fee in Delhi courts is paid through stamp paper or e-Stamp. E-stamps are available from SHCIL-authorised centres and the Delhi Government's e-stamping portal. Always verify with the court registry before filing.

Key points advocates must know

  • The 2012 Delhi Amendment Act is INVALID — struck down by Delhi HC (Oct 2013) and confirmed by SC (Nov 2013). The original 1870 Act rates apply.
  • NO maximum fee cap exists in Delhi unlike Maharashtra (Rs. 3,00,000 cap) or Tamil Nadu. Fee increases without limit for very high value suits.
  • For matrimonial suits under HMA/SMA: fixed Rs. 98. Under Indian Divorce Act or Parsi Marriage Act: Rs. 195.
  • Declaratory decrees WITHOUT any consequential relief: fixed Rs. 98 (Schedule II Art.13). WITH consequential relief (possession, injunction etc.): ad valorem as calculated here.
  • Writ petitions under Article 226 (non-criminal, non-habeas corpus): fixed Rs. 250. Companies Act winding up: Rs. 1,300.
  • NI Act S.138 dishonoured cheque complaints in Delhi: regular Schedule II fixed fee of Rs. 6 — NOT ad valorem (unlike Maharashtra).
  • Verify current fee with Delhi HC website (https://delhihighcourt.nic.in) or Delhi Subordinate Courts portal before filing.

Specific questions

Is the Delhi Court Fees (Amendment) Act 2012 applicable? ▼

No. The Court Fees (Delhi Amendment) Act, 2012 was declared unconstitutional by the Delhi High Court on 9 October 2013 in WP(C) 4770/2012. The Delhi Government's SLP was dismissed by the Supreme Court on 12 November 2013. The original Court-Fees Act, 1870 rates are in force and that is what this calculator uses.

Is there a maximum court fee limit in Delhi? ▼

No. Unlike Maharashtra (cap of Rs. 3,00,000) or Tamil Nadu (7.5% no cap), the Court-Fees Act 1870 as applicable to Delhi has no maximum fee ceiling. The fee increases progressively for very high value suits — for instance, a Rs. 1 crore suit attracts approximately Rs. 1,02,560 in court fees.

What is the court fee for a matrimonial suit in Delhi? ▼

For suits under the Hindu Marriage Act or Special Marriage Act: Rs. 98 (Schedule II, Article 12). For petitions under the Indian Divorce Act or Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act: Rs. 195. Family Court registry should be consulted for the current applicable amount.

What is the writ petition fee at Delhi High Court? ▼

Rs. 250 for writ petitions under Article 226 in non-criminal, non-habeas corpus matters (Schedule II Art.1d-iii). Rs. 1,300 for Companies Act winding up petitions. Rs. 65 for other Companies Act judicial actions. Rs. 13 for all other High Court applications not otherwise specified.

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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