What is pecuniary jurisdiction in Indian courts?

Pecuniary jurisdiction (Section 6 CPC) refers to the monetary limit up to which each court level can hear cases. Every state has different thresholds. In most states: Junior Civil Judge handles suits up to ₹3 lakh; Senior Civil Judge up to ₹10–15 lakh; District Judge for higher amounts. Delhi's District Court handles up to ₹2 crore; above that goes to Delhi High Court original side. Section 15 CPC requires filing in the lowest competent court — you cannot skip a level.

Can jurisdiction be waived by consent of parties?

Territorial and pecuniary jurisdiction objections can sometimes be waived if not raised at the earliest opportunity (Section 21 CPC). However, subject-matter jurisdiction — whether a civil court has power to try the case at all — can NEVER be waived, not even by consent of both parties. If a special forum like MACT or Consumer Forum has exclusive jurisdiction, the civil court cannot hear the matter regardless of any agreement.

Where do I file a property dispute case?

Under Section 16 CPC, suits for immovable property — including title declaration, partition, injunction, mortgage, or specific performance of a property sale — must be filed exclusively in the court within whose jurisdiction the property is situated. This rule is mandatory and cannot be changed by agreement or consent of parties. If property spans two districts, Section 17 CPC allows filing in either district.

Find the Right Court for Your Case

Free jurisdiction calculator — determine which court to file in based on CPC Sections 15, 16, 17, 19 & 20.

Which Court Should I File My Case In?

Filing in the wrong court wastes months. The court will either return the plaint (Order VII Rule 10 CPC) or strike it out, and you lose the limitation period — sometimes fatally. Jurisdiction has three dimensions you must get right before drafting a single word of your plaint:

Territorial jurisdiction — which district or location has the authority to hear this case (CPC Sections 16–20).
Pecuniary jurisdiction — which level of court within that district can hear a suit of this value (CPC Sections 6 & 15).
Subject-matter / forum — whether a specialised tribunal (MACT, DRT, Consumer Forum, Family Court, NCLT) has exclusive jurisdiction, ousting the civil court entirely (Section 9 CPC implied bar).

This tool applies the relevant CPC sections, special Acts, and Supreme Court rulings to instantly determine all three. Select your case type below.

1Select Your Case Type

Civil Suits

Criminal Complaints

Family

Accident & Insurance

Consumer

Employment

Financial Recovery

Writ / Constitutional

2Answer a Few Questions

Where is the property located?

Territorial jurisdiction for immovable property is mandatory — file where property is situated (Section 16 CPC).

Estimated suit value (₹)

Used to determine court level (pecuniary jurisdiction).

Is the property in multiple districts?

Where does the defendant reside?

Where did the cause of action arise?

Where the contract was breached, goods were to be delivered, or service was to be rendered.

Amount claimed (₹)

What is the basis of the debt / claim?

Determines the correct Limitation Act article for your case.

Where is YOUR bank branch? (the branch where you deposited the cheque)

S.142(2) NI Act (2015 Amendment, confirmed in Jai Balaji Industries v HEG Ltd, SC 2025): jurisdiction lies where YOUR bank branch is located — the branch where you maintain the account and deposited the cheque for collection.

Where did the accident occur?

Section 166, Motor Vehicles Act 1988 — file where accident occurred OR where claimant resides.

Compensation claimed (₹) — for reference only

MACT has no pecuniary limit — no court fee required for accident claims.

Where do you (complainant) reside?

Value of goods/services + compensation claimed (₹)

This determines the correct consumer forum — District / State / National Commission.

Where was the marriage solemnized?

Where does the wife currently reside?

As amended by the Supreme Court — wife's residence is also a valid place to file matrimonial petition.

Where does the applicant (wife / child) reside?

Section 125 CrPC / BNSS — file where applicant resides OR where respondent resides.

Where does the aggrieved person reside / last resided?

DV Act S.12 — file where aggrieved person resides, or where respondent resides, or where cause of action arose.

Amount of debt / recovery (₹)

DRT jurisdiction applies only if the debt is ₹20 lakh or more (RDDB Act S.17).

Where does the defendant / borrower reside or have branch?

Which state's High Court has jurisdiction?

Writ petitions under Article 226 lie before the High Court having territorial jurisdiction over the authority/respondent.

Where did the offence / incident occur?

Criminal courts have jurisdiction where the offence was committed (Section 177, CrPC / BNSS).

Where is the industrial establishment / workplace located?

Labour Courts / Industrial Tribunals have jurisdiction where the industrial establishment is situated.

Where is your place of posting / government office?

Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) — file at the bench having jurisdiction over your place of posting.

Amount claimed from insurer (₹)

Where does the complainant reside?

Insurance claims can go to Consumer Forum (CPA 2019) or Civil Court depending on the amount and nature.

Where is the secured asset / property located?

SARFAESI challenge under S.17 — file at the DRT having jurisdiction over the secured asset.

Is the debtor a company / LLP or an individual?

Where is the registered office / principal place of business?

IBC 2016 — NCLT bench having jurisdiction over registered office of corporate debtor.

Where does the child currently reside?

Guardians & Wards Act S.9 — file where the minor ordinarily resides.

Jurisdiction Result

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How Jurisdiction Works in Indian Courts

Three rules from the Code of Civil Procedure that determine where you must file

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1 — Territorial Jurisdiction

WHERE to file

Property disputes (S.16 CPC) — Must file where the property is situated. No exceptions — this is mandatory even if both parties agree otherwise.

Money / contracts (S.20 CPC) — File where the defendant resides or where the cause of action arose. You choose.

Cheque bounce (S.142(2) NI Act, 2015) — File where your bank branch is located (the branch where you deposited the cheque). Confirmed by SC in Jai Balaji Industries v HEG Ltd (2025). Rare exception: direct counter presentation → drawer's bank branch.

Motor accident — Where the accident occurred, or claimant's residence (MV Act S.166).

Divorce / matrimonial — Where marriage was solemnized, where husband/wife last resided together, or where wife currently resides (S.19 HMA as amended).

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2 — Pecuniary Jurisdiction

WHICH COURT LEVEL

Every state sets different monetary limits for each court level. The limits vary widely — check before filing.

Section 15 CPC — Always file in the court of lowest grade competent to try the suit. Filing in a higher court when a lower court has jurisdiction is grounds for returning the plaint.

Typical thresholds (most states):

Junior Civil JudgeUp to ₹3 lakh

Senior Civil Judge₹3–15 lakh

District JudgeAbove ₹15 lakh

Note: Delhi District Court handles up to ₹2 crore. Use the calculator above for your state.

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3 — Subject Matter Jurisdiction

CIVIL COURT OR SPECIAL FORUM?

Many case types go to special forums — not civil courts. Filing in civil court when a special forum has exclusive jurisdiction results in rejection under S.9 CPC.

→Motor accident → MACT (MV Act S.165)

→Consumer dispute → Consumer Forum (CPA 2019)

→Bank recovery ≥₹20L → DRT (RDDB Act S.17)

→Matrimonial → Family Court (where established)

→Cheque bounce → Judicial Magistrate (NI Act S.138)

→Insolvency → NCLT (IBC 2016)

→Labour dispute → Labour Court / Industrial Tribunal

→Central govt service → CAT (Administrative Tribunals Act)

⚠️ What Happens If You File In the Wrong Court?

Territorial or pecuniary error — The court returns the plaint under Order VII Rule 10 CPC for re-filing in the correct court. These objections can sometimes be waived under Section 21 CPC if not raised at the first opportunity.

Subject-matter error — If a special forum has exclusive jurisdiction, the civil court must reject the suit under Section 9 CPC (implied bar doctrine). This cannot be waived — not even by consent of both parties.

The biggest risk — Delay caused by filing in the wrong court can cause the limitation period to expire before re-filing. Once time-barred, the case is permanently lost regardless of merit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I file in the wrong court?

The court will return your plaint under Order VII Rule 10 CPC if it lacks territorial or pecuniary jurisdiction. If it lacks subject-matter jurisdiction (e.g. filing a consumer complaint in civil court), the suit will be rejected under Section 9 CPC (implied bar doctrine). Beyond the delay, you risk losing the limitation period — if the statute of limitations expires before you re-file in the correct court, your case is permanently barred.

Can I file where I (the plaintiff) reside?

Generally, no — for civil suits, CPC Section 20 gives jurisdiction to the defendant's place of residence or where the cause of action arose, not the plaintiff's. The main exceptions: (1) Consumer complaints under CPA 2019 — complainant's residence is a valid ground. (2) Matrimonial petitions — wife's residence is valid (SC amendment to HMA). (3) Motor accident claims — claimant's residence is valid under MV Act S.166. For most other civil suits, the plaintiff must go to the defendant's court.

What is Section 15 CPC and why does it matter?

Section 15 CPC mandates that you always file in the court of the lowest grade competent to try the suit. If a Junior Civil Judge has pecuniary jurisdiction over your suit, you cannot directly approach the District Court — the plaint will be returned. This rule prevents forum shopping upward. The exception is if your suit requires original jurisdiction only available at a higher court (e.g. company matters in High Courts).

When should I go to a special forum instead of civil court?

Certain laws create exclusive special forums that oust the civil court's jurisdiction under Section 9 CPC. You must file before these forums: Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) for road accident compensation; Consumer Forum for consumer disputes; DRT for bank recovery of ₹20 lakh+; Family Court for matrimonial matters where established; Magistrate Court for cheque bounce under NI Act S.138; NCLT for insolvency under IBC 2016. Filing in civil court instead will result in rejection once the implied bar is raised.

What is territorial jurisdiction in Indian law?

Territorial jurisdiction (Sections 16–20 CPC) determines the geographic location where a suit must be filed. For immovable property, Section 16 mandates filing where the property is situated — this is absolute and cannot be waived. For money recovery, contracts, and damages, Section 20 gives the plaintiff a choice: file where the defendant resides, where the defendant carries on business, or where the cause of action wholly or partly arose.

Where do I file a cheque bounce case?

Cheque bounce complaints under Section 138 NI Act are filed before the Judicial Magistrate First Class or Metropolitan Magistrate. Jurisdiction is governed by Section 142(2) of the NI Act (inserted by the Negotiable Instruments Amendment Act, 2015): (a) if the cheque was deposited through a bank account — the court where the payee's bank branch (where the payee maintains the account) is situated; (b) if the cheque was presented directly at the drawee bank — the court where the drawer's bank branch is situated. The Supreme Court's ruling in Dashrath Rupsingh Rathod v. State of Maharashtra (2014) on this point has been superseded by the 2015 statutory amendment.

Where do I file a property dispute or partition case?

Under Section 16 CPC, all suits relating to immovable property — title declaration, partition, injunction over property, mortgage enforcement, or specific performance of a sale agreement — must be filed in the court whose territorial jurisdiction covers the location of the property. This is mandatory. If the property spans two districts, Section 17 CPC allows filing in either district's court.

Can jurisdiction be waived by agreement of parties?

Territorial and pecuniary jurisdiction objections can be waived if not raised at the first opportunity before submitting to the merits (Section 21 CPC). However, subject-matter jurisdiction — whether a civil court has the power to try the case at all — can never be waived, not even by express consent. If MACT, Consumer Forum, DRT, or NCLT has exclusive jurisdiction, the civil court is barred regardless of any agreement between parties.

What is pecuniary jurisdiction and how do I check it?

Pecuniary jurisdiction (Section 6 CPC) is the monetary limit up to which each court level can entertain a suit. Every state sets its own limits by notification. In most states, Junior Civil Judge courts handle up to ₹3 lakh, Senior Civil Judge up to ₹10–15 lakh, and District Courts handle higher amounts. Delhi is different — District Courts handle up to ₹2 crore; above that goes to the Delhi High Court (original side). Use the calculator above to get the exact court level for your state and suit value.

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