⚖️ Karnataka 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.

Act 16 of 1958 · Amended to 2015

State Karnataka ✓ Verified Mar 2026 ⇄ Change state

Calculate Court Fee — Karnataka

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

💰 Money Suit / Compensation Property & Recovery 🏠 Partition Suit (Excluded from Possession) Property & Recovery 🔑 Eviction / Landlord-Tenant Suit Property & Recovery 📜 Declaratory Suit (Declaration + Possession) Declaratory & Injunction 🚫 Injunction Suit Declaratory & Injunction 📝 Specific Performance of Contract Declaratory & Injunction 💍 Matrimonial Suit (Divorce / Restitution) Family & Estate ⚰️ Probate / Letters of Administration Family & Estate 📋 Succession Certificate Family & Estate ⚖️ Writ Petition (Art.226 / 227 / 228) High Court 📂 Other Civil Suit / Misc (S.47) Other Suits

Suit Value / Claim Amount (₹) * 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 Karnataka: A Guide for Advocates

Karnataka uses the <strong>Karnataka Court-Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1958 (Act 16 of 1958)</strong> — a combined court-fees and suits-valuation statute unique to the state. Unlike the 1870 Central Act (used by Delhi) or the 1959 Maharashtra Act, the Karnataka Act directly links fee computation to market value or claimed amount under Sections 21–49, applied at progressive ad valorem rates per <strong>Schedule I, Article 1</strong>. Key amendments: Act 13 of 1982 (raised minimum fees to ₹1,000 for declarations/injunctions), Act 12 of 2000 (reduced probate rates to 3%/5%, capped at ₹30,000), Act 9 of 2015 (75% refund on court-ordered settlement under S.89 CPC).

How is court fee calculated?

Determine the suit value per the relevant section (S.21–49): amount claimed for money suits; 1 year's rent for eviction (S.41); full market value for declaration + possession (S.24(a)); plaintiff's stated valuation for injunction (S.26(c)).
Apply the 16-slab progressive Schedule I, Article 1 table: 2.5% on first ₹15,000; 7.5% on ₹15,001–₹75,000; then tapering — 7%, 6.5%, 6%, 5.5%, 5%, 4.5%, 4%, 3.5%, 3%, 2.5%, 2%, 1.5%, 1% for progressively higher slabs.
Enforce any section-specific minimum: ₹1,000 for declarations (S.24) and injunctions (S.26). There is NO maximum cap on plaint fees under the current amended Schedule.

Key points advocates must know

16-slab progressive ad valorem table (Schedule I, Art.1) — rates taper from 2.5% (first ₹15,000) down to 1% above ₹70 lakh; no maximum cap
Minimum fee of ₹1,000 for declaration suits (S.24) and injunction suits (S.26) — post-1982 amendment
Partition: excluded-from-possession → ad valorem on market value of share; joint-possession → fixed fee ₹15/₹30/₹100/₹200 (S.35(2))
Probate / Letters of Administration: 3% on first ₹3 lakh + 5% on excess, capped at ₹30,000 (Act 12 of 2000)
75% court-fee refund available if suit settled via S.89 CPC (mediation/Lok Adalat) — Act 9 of 2015
Writ petition Art.226/227/228 at Karnataka High Court: ₹50 fixed (Schedule II, Art.10(k))
Suits not otherwise provided for (S.47): ₹50 fixed (Act 7 of 1996)

Specific questions

What is the court fee for a ₹10 lakh money suit in Karnataka? ▼

Fee = 2.5%×₹15,000 + 7.5%×₹60,000 + 7%×₹1,75,000 + 6.5%×₹2,50,000 + 6%×₹2,50,000 + 5.5%×₹2,50,000 = ₹375 + ₹4,500 + ₹12,250 + ₹16,250 + ₹15,000 + ₹13,750 = ₹62,125.

Is there a maximum court fee in Karnataka? ▼

The original 1958 Act had a ₹3,000 cap. Subsequent amendments removed this cap. Under the current Schedule I there is no upper limit on ad valorem plaint fees.

What is the court fee for a partition suit in Karnataka? ▼

If the plaintiff is excluded from possession: ad valorem on market value of plaintiff's share (Schedule I, Art.1 rates, no cap). If in joint possession: fixed — ₹15 (share ≤ ₹3,000), ₹30 (₹3,001–₹5,000), ₹100 (₹5,001–₹10,000), or ₹200 (above ₹10,000) per S.35(2).

What is the probate fee in Karnataka? ▼

3% on estate value up to ₹3,00,000 + 5% on the excess, subject to a maximum of ₹30,000 (Article 6, amended by Act 12 of 2000). Same rates apply for succession certificates (Article 7). The cap of ₹30,000 is reached at a total estate value of ₹7,20,000.

Is the 75% court-fee refund automatic in Karnataka? ▼

No — refund under S.66 (Act 9 of 2015) applies when the suit is settled through a S.89 CPC mechanism (mediation, arbitration, or Lok Adalat) or disposed of by compromise before judgment. The advocate must apply for the refund certificate from the court.

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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