Court Fee Rules Reference
Karnataka Court Fees & Suits Valuation Act, 1958
₹Ad Valorem Fee Slabs
Schedule I, Article 1 — Karnataka Court Fees & Suits Valuation Act, 1958
| Slab | Value Range | Rate | Base Fee (Rs.) | Formula |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| i | Rs. 1 – 15,000 | 2.5% | — | 2.5% × value |
| ii | Rs. 15,001 – 75,000 | 7.5% | 375 | 375 + 7.5% × (value − 15,000) |
| iii | Rs. 75,001 – 2,50,000 | 7.0% | 4,875 | 4,875 + 7.0% × (value − 75,000) |
| iv | Rs. 2,50,001 – 5,00,000 | 6.5% | 17,125 | 17,125 + 6.5% × (value − 2,50,000) |
| v | Rs. 5,00,001 – 7,50,000 | 6.0% | 33,375 | 33,375 + 6.0% × (value − 5,00,000) |
| vi | Rs. 7,50,001 – 10,00,000 | 5.5% | 48,375 | 48,375 + 5.5% × (value − 7,50,000) |
| vii | Rs. 10,00,001 – 15,00,000 | 5.0% | 62,125 | 62,125 + 5.0% × (value − 10,00,000) |
| viii | Rs. 15,00,001 – 20,00,000 | 4.5% | 87,125 | 87,125 + 4.5% × (value − 15,00,000) |
| ix | Rs. 20,00,001 – 25,00,000 | 4.0% | 1,09,625 | 1,09,625 + 4.0% × (value − 20,00,000) |
| x | Rs. 25,00,001 – 30,00,000 | 3.5% | 1,29,625 | 1,29,625 + 3.5% × (value − 25,00,000) |
| xi | Rs. 30,00,001 – 40,00,000 | 3.0% | 1,47,125 | 1,47,125 + 3.0% × (value − 30,00,000) |
| xii | Rs. 40,00,001 – 50,00,000 | 2.0% | 1,77,125 | 1,77,125 + 2.0% × (value − 40,00,000) |
| xiii | Rs. 50,00,001 – 60,00,000 | 2.0% | 2,02,125 | 2,02,125 + 2.0% × (value − 50,00,000) |
| xiv | Rs. 60,00,001 – 70,00,000 | 1.0% | 2,22,125 | 2,22,125 + 1.0% × (value − 60,00,000) |
| xv | Rs. 70,00,001 – 80,00,000 | 1.0% | 2,37,125 | 2,37,125 + 1.0% × (value − 70,00,000) |
| xvi | Rs. 80,00,001+ | 1.0% | 2,47,125 | 2,47,125 + 1.0% × (value − 80,00,000) |
⚖Suit Types by Category
48 suit types across 9 categories
| Suit Type | Section | Fee Method | Value Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Money Suit / Recovery of Debt | Art. 1 | Amount claimed | |
| Mortgage - Money Recovery | Sec 32(a) | Amount claimed on mortgage | |
| Mortgage - Co-mortgagee Suit | Sec 32(b) | Entire mortgage amount | |
| Mortgage - Sub-mortgage | Sec 32(c) | Amount claimed on sub-mortgage | |
| Mortgage - Redemption | Sec 32(d) | Higher of: amount due OR 1/4 of principal | |
| Mortgage - Foreclosure | Sec 32(e) | Principal + Interest | |
| Suit for Accounts | Sec 33 | Amount sued for as estimated in plaint | |
| Mesne Profits | Sec 42 | Amount estimated in plaint |
| Suit Type | Section | Fee Method | Value Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Declaration + Possession | Sec 24(a) | Market value of property (min Rs. 1,000) | |
| Declaration + Consequential Injunction (Immovable) | Sec 24(b) | 1/2 of market value (min Rs. 1,000) | |
| Declaration (Other Cases) | Sec 24(d) | Amount valued in plaint (min Rs. 1,000) | |
| Injunction (Title Denied, Immovable) | Sec 26(a) | 1/2 of market value (min Rs. 1,000) | |
| Injunction (Other Cases) | Sec 26(b)/(c) | Amount valued in plaint (min Rs. 1,000) | |
| Possession (Specific Relief Act) | Sec 28 | 1/2 of market value (min Rs. 1,000) | |
| Possession (Other) | Sec 29 | Market value (min Rs. 1,000) | |
| Pre-emption | Sec 31 | Lower of: sale consideration OR market value | |
| Easements | Sec 30 | Amount valued in plaint (min Rs. 1,000) |
| Suit Type | Section | Fee Method | Value Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specific Performance - Sale | Sec 40(a) | Amount of consideration | |
| Specific Performance - Mortgage | Sec 40(b) | Amount to be secured by mortgage | |
| Specific Performance - Lease | Sec 40(c) | Fine/premium + average annual rent | |
| Specific Performance - Exchange | Sec 40(d) | Consideration or market value of property sought | |
| Specific Performance - Other | Sec 40(e) | Market value of consideration |
| Suit Type | Section | Fee Method | Value Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adoption | Sec 25 | Fixed Tiered | Value of property (fixed fee table) |
| Trust Property | Sec 27 | Ad valorem on 1/5 of market value (max Rs. 200) | |
| Set Aside Attachment | Sec 39 | Ad valorem on 1/4 of market value OR attachment amount (lower) | |
| Cancellation of Decree/Document | Sec 38 | Value of subject matter | |
| Revenue Register Entry | Sec 43 | Fixed | Fixed fee - Rs. 50 |
| Public Matter (Religious Endowment, CPC 91-92) | Sec 44 | Fixed | Fixed fee - Rs. 50 |
| Dissolution of Partnership | Sec 34 | Ad valorem on plaintiff's share value | |
| Landlord-Tenant Disputes | Sec 41 | Ad valorem on annual rent | |
| Administration Suit | Sec 37 | Fixed Tiered | Sec 47 rates based on estate value |
| Interpleader Suit | Sec 45 | Fixed Tiered | Sec 47 rates based on dispute value |
| Suit Type | Section | Fee Method | Value Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memorandum of Appeal (General) | Sec 49 / Art. 1 | Same fee as court of first instance | |
| Appeal on Compensation (Land Acquisition etc.) | Sec 48 | Ad valorem on difference between awarded and claimed amounts | |
| Review Application (Within 90 Days) | Art. 5 | Fraction of Fee | Half the plaint fee |
| Review Application (After 90 Days) | Art. 5A | Full plaint fee | |
| Review of KAT Order | Art. 5AA | Fixed | Fixed fee - Rs. 20 |
| Insolvency Petition | Art. 2(a) | Fraction of Fee | Half of Art. 1 scale |
| Indian Succession Act Appeal | Art. 4 | Fraction of Fee | Half of Art. 1 scale |
Ad valorem on difference between awarded and claimed amounts
| Suit Type | Section | Fee Method | Value Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writ Petition (Art. 226/227) | Art. 226/227 | Fixed | Fixed fee - Rs. 100 |
| Habeas Corpus | Art. 226 | Exempt | Exempt - no fee payable |
Source: Karnataka Court Fees & Suits Valuation Act, 1958 (Act 2 of 1993 amendment)
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the ad valorem court fee calculated in Karnataka?
Ad valorem fees are calculated using the slab table in Schedule I of the Karnataka Court Fees & Suits Valuation Act, 1958 (as amended in 1993). You find the slab your suit value falls into and apply the formula: fee = base fee + rate × (suit value − slab threshold). This is a single-slab lookup, not a cumulative marginal calculation.
What is the difference between money suits and property suits?
Money suits (e.g., recovery of debt, damages) use the claimed amount as the subject matter value. Property suits (e.g., partition, injunction) use the market value of the property in question. The court fee slab is the same, but how the "value" is determined differs based on the Suits Valuation Act provisions for each category.
Can I get a refund of court fees?
Yes, partial refunds are available under certain conditions — for example, if a suit is settled before judgment, withdrawn, or dismissed at an early stage. The refund percentage depends on the stage of the proceedings. Use the Refund Estimator tab in this calculator to estimate your refund amount.
How are appeal court fees calculated?
Appeal fees depend on the type of appeal. First appeals from original suits typically require the same ad valorem fee as the original suit. Second appeals and certain miscellaneous appeals may have fixed fees or reduced ad valorem rates. The calculator handles all these variations automatically based on the suit type you select.
Is there a minimum court fee?
Yes. The minimum ad valorem court fee under the Karnataka Act is ₹100 for suits valued up to ₹500. For most practical suit values, the fee is determined by the 14-tier slab table. Certain petition types (interlocutory applications, caveats, etc.) have separate fixed fees specified in the Act.
Which act governs court fees in Karnataka?
Court fees in Karnataka are governed by the Karnataka Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1958 (Karnataka Act No. 16 of 1958), as amended by Act 2 of 1993. This is a state-specific law — other Indian states have their own court fee legislation. This calculator is specific to Karnataka courts.