⚖️ Jharkhand Court Fee Calculator

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

Generally yes — the state's Court Fees Act schedule applies uniformly across all civil courts within the state. However, High Court original jurisdiction suits may have separate fee schedules. Tribunals and consumer forums also have their own fee structures.

Q: Can court fees be waived?

Yes — indigent persons can file suits without court fees under Order XXXIII of the Code of Civil Procedure. The court examines the financial position of the plaintiff. If declared indigent, the fee is recoverable from the defendant if the suit succeeds. Some states also provide exemptions for women litigants, SC/ST parties, or government bodies.

Q: Are court fees refundable if the case is settled?

Generally no. Court fees are non-refundable once paid. However, some state Acts provide 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 refundable in certain circumstances.

⚠️ New rate system effective 24 Nov 2023 — 15% for suits up to Rs. 30,000 (highest in India). Max cap Rs. 3,00,000. Probate at 10% flat (highest in India). Monitor for any HC stay orders given strong Bar Council opposition.

State Jharkhand ✓ Verified Mar 2026 ⇄ Change state

Calculate Court Fee — Jharkhand

All Property & Recovery Declaratory & Injunction Family & Estate High Court

💰 Suit for Money / Damages / Compensation Property & Recovery 🏠 Suit for Partition of Property Property & Recovery 🚫 Suit for Injunction Declaratory & Injunction 📝 Suit for Specific Performance of Contract Declaratory & Injunction 💍 Matrimonial Suit / Appeal (Divorce / Nullity) Family & Estate ⚰️ Probate of Will / Letters of Administration Family & Estate 📋 Succession Certificate Family & Estate ⚖️ Writ Petition / HC Application (Art. 226/227) High Court

Suit Value / Claim Amount (₹) * Enter the amount as specified by the applicable rule above

Court Fee Payable

—

⚠️ 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 Jharkhand: A Guide for Advocates

Jharkhand, carved from Bihar on 15 November 2000, initially inherited Bihar's court fee structure. In November 2023, the Court Fees (Jharkhand Amendment) Act, 2022 (Jharkhand Act No. 14 of 2023) completely overhauled Schedules I and II of the 1870 Act. The new percentage-based system — notified in the Jharkhand Gazette Extraordinary on 24 November 2023 — makes Jharkhand the second state after Haryana to adopt a percentage-based rate table. Section 7 of the 1870 Act (governing suit-type computation) remains unchanged. ⚠️ The amendment caused significant bar protests (lawyers struck in January 2023 when the Bill was introduced). The Jharkhand State Bar Council called off the strike after Bar Council of India direction. CM Hemant Soren promised a review. As of March 2026, the new rates are in force with no known stay order.

How is court fee calculated?

Determine the suit value under Section 7 of the 1870 Act (inherited from Bihar): S.7(i) for money suits (amount claimed); S.7(ii) for maintenance/annuity (10× annual amount); S.7(iv) for declaratory/injunction/accounts (plaintiff's valuation); S.7(v) for possession — 20× revenue for permanently settled land (Bihar/Orissa 1922 Amendment), 10× for others; S.7(x) for mortgage (principal); S.7(xi) for specific performance (consideration).
Apply Schedule I Article 1 percentage slabs: 15% on full value up to Rs. 30,000 | 10% on excess between Rs. 30,001–50,000 | 3% on excess between Rs. 50,001–20,00,000 | 0.5% on excess between Rs. 20,00,001–1,00,00,000 | 0.3% on excess above Rs. 1,00,00,000 (maximum Rs. 3,00,000). No ceiling rounding — pure percentage.
Maximum cap: Rs. 3,00,000 applies to all ad valorem plaint/appeal fees. The cap is reached at approximately Rs. 7.48 crore suit value.
⚠️ HIGH LOW-VALUE FEES: The 15% rate up to Rs. 30,000 is the HIGHEST effective rate for small litigation in India. A Rs. 10,000 suit costs Rs. 1,500 in Jharkhand vs. Rs. 800 in old Bihar rates, Rs. 250 in Haryana, Rs. 1,126 in Punjab.

Key points advocates must know

📈 HIGHEST SMALL-SUIT RATE: 15% for suits up to Rs. 30,000 — the highest effective rate in India. A Rs. 10,000 money suit costs Rs. 1,500; a Rs. 30,000 suit costs Rs. 4,500.
🔺 10% PROBATE/SUCCESSION: Schedule I Articles 3 & 4 charge 10% flat on estate value for probate and succession certificates (minimum Rs. 500). This is the highest probate/succession rate in India by a massive margin — compare WB at 7%, Maharashtra/Gujarat at 7.5%, Rajasthan/Punjab at 3.25%.
📊 CAP Rs. 3,00,000: Same maximum cap as Maharashtra. Higher-value suits (Rs. 5–20 lakh) are actually CHEAPER than old Bihar rates due to the graduated reduction in percentage (3% slab vs. old incremental). A Rs. 10 lakh suit costs Rs. 35,000 vs. Rs. 50,000 under old Bihar rates.
⚠️ MONITOR FOR STAY/ROLLBACK: Strong bar opposition to these rates. CM Soren promised a review. The Jharkhand HC may have issued stay orders after March 2026 — verify at jharkhandhighcourt.nic.in before advising clients.
🏛️ SCHEDULE II NOW MODERNIZED: Writ petition (HC Art.226/227) = Rs. 500 | Review = Rs. 500 | Non-monetary suits = Rs. 1,000 | Copies = Rs. 10/page | Vakalatnama = Rs. 50 (HC). Full Schedule II in notes below.
⚖️ S.6 SPECIFIC RELIEF: Unlike most states that charge half-rate for summary possession suits under S.6, Jharkhand charges FULL Article 1 rates (Art. 2 of new Schedule I).

Specific questions

How much does it cost to file a Rs. 1 lakh money suit in Jharkhand? ▼

Under the new 2023 rates: Rs. 6,500 + 3% of (Rs. 1,00,000 − Rs. 50,000) = Rs. 6,500 + Rs. 1,500 = Rs. 8,000. Under the old Bihar-inherited rates, a Rs. 1 lakh suit cost ~Rs. 5,000. The new rate is 60% higher for this value range. Compare: Punjab = Rs. 3,320; Rajasthan = Rs. 3,560; Maharashtra = ~Rs. 6,600.

Is the 2023 Jharkhand court fee increase legally in force? ▼

Yes, as of March 2026, the Court Fees (Jharkhand Amendment) Act, 2022 (Act 14 of 2023), notified in the Jharkhand Gazette on 24 November 2023, is in force. Lawyers protested and went on strike in January 2023 when the Bill was introduced. The Jharkhand State Bar Council called off the strike after the Bar Council of India directed it to do so. CM Hemant Soren promised a review, but no rollback or stay order has been identified. Verify the current status at jharkhandhighcourt.nic.in.

Why is Jharkhand's probate fee so high? ▼

Schedule I Article 3 of the new 2023 Act charges 10% flat on the estate value for probate and letters of administration (minimum Rs. 500). This is the highest probate rate in India by a significant margin. For context: West Bengal charges a maximum of 7% (on estates above Rs. 5 lakh, incremental); Maharashtra/Gujarat cap at 7.5% on full value; Rajasthan/Punjab charge 3.25%. Jharkhand's 10% flat with no stated cap is unprecedented. Consult a Jharkhand practitioner for strategies in large estates.

Are Jharkhand court fees higher or lower than Bihar now? ▼

It depends on the suit value. Low-value suits (up to ~Rs. 3 lakh): Jharkhand is HIGHER (up to 2.6× more). Mid-value suits (Rs. 5–20 lakh): Jharkhand is LOWER (due to 3% slab vs. old incremental rates with Rs. 50,000 cap). High-value suits (above Rs. 25 lakh): Jharkhand is MUCH HIGHER (cap is Rs. 3,00,000 vs. Bihar's Rs. 50,000 cap).

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.

Are you an advocate?

Get your free verified profile on Legistro — clients in your city find you on Google.

Claim Free Profile →

Related Free Tools 🧾 Section 44ADA Tax Calculator — Calculate your FY 2025-26 income tax as an advocate · ⏳ Limitation Period Calculator — Check filing deadlines for all case types · 📝 Legal Notice Generator — Draft Section 138 and recovery notices instantly