How Court Fees Work in Karnataka
Karnataka's court fee system uses a 16-slab ad valorem structure that can be confusing. Here's a breakdown of how it works and how to compute fees for different suit types.
The Two Types of Court Fees
Under the Karnataka Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1958, court fees fall into two broad categories:
- Ad valorem fees — calculated as a percentage of the suit value, using a slab-based system (like income tax)
- Fixed fees — a flat amount regardless of suit value
Most suits for money, property, or specific performance attract ad valorem fees. Simpler matters like adoption suits, revenue court applications, and public interest matters attract fixed fees.
The 16-Slab Ad Valorem System
Schedule I, Article 1 of the Act prescribes a progressive slab structure:
| Suit Value | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to Rs. 15,000 | 2.5% |
| Rs. 15,001 – 30,000 | 3.0% |
| Rs. 30,001 – 50,000 | 3.5% |
| Rs. 50,001 – 1,00,000 | 4.0% |
| Rs. 1,00,001 – 2,00,000 | 4.5% |
| Rs. 2,00,001 – 3,00,000 | 5.0% |
| Rs. 3,00,001 – 5,00,000 | 5.5% |
| Rs. 5,00,001 – 10,00,000 | 6.0% |
| Rs. 10,00,001 – 15,00,000 | 6.5% |
| Rs. 15,00,001 – 20,00,000 | 7.0% |
| Above Rs. 20,00,000 | 7.5% |
This is marginal — each slab applies only to the amount within that range, just like income tax brackets.
Special Suit Types
Not every suit uses the standard ad valorem scale. The Act has specific provisions for:
- Declaratory suits (Section 24) — full market value for possession, half for injunction
- Partition suits (Section 35) — ad valorem when title denied, fixed fees when in joint possession
- Mortgage suits (Section 32) — varies by type (recovery, redemption, foreclosure)
- Injunction suits (Section 26) — half market value when title denied
- Probate/Succession (Article 6) — separate tiered system capped at Rs. 30,000
Our Court Fee Calculator handles all 50+ suit types across 9 categories.
Appeal Fees
Under Section 49, the fee on a memorandum of appeal equals the fee payable on the plaint in the court of first instance. So if your original suit attracted Rs. 50,000 in court fees, the appeal fee is also Rs. 50,000.
For review applications, the fee depends on timing:
- Filed within 90 days: half the original plaint fee (Article 5)
- Filed after 90 days: full plaint fee (Article 5A)
Refunds
If a suit is settled, dismissed, or transferred before trial, you may be entitled to a partial refund of court fees. The refund amount depends on the stage at which the case ended.
Using the Calculator
Our calculator covers every suit type in the Act. Select a category (money suits, property, partition, etc.), choose the specific suit type, enter the value — and get an instant breakdown of the applicable court fee with the exact legal provision cited.
Every calculation links to the relevant section in our Legal Reference Library, so you can verify the provision yourself.