Kerala Budget 2025-26: Court Fee To Be Increased, Proposal To Establish A Centre For Legal Studies, Funds To Curb Cyber Bullying, Fake News

The Kerala Budget 2025-26 has proposed revision in Court fees in many area. In the 2024-2025 Budget, fee increase was proposed for cases coming under Negotiable Instruments Act and Family Court Act. The Government through this year's budget is proposing to extend this to many other areas. The change will be made through amendments in the Kerala Court Fees and Suit Valuation Act.The proposal said that the Government may consider the recommendation to relax the Court fees for women and transgenders. The Government is hoping to get an additional Revenue of Rs. 150 Crores.Some of the proposed court fee are as follows:Petition for taking possession of secured assets under SARFAESI Act – Rs. 1000Application of bail and anticipatory bail before High Court – Rs. 500, Rs. 250 for subsequent petitionsApplication of bail before Sessions Court – Rs. 200, for subsequent petitions – Rs. 100Application of anticipatory bail before Sessions Court – Rs. 250, for subsequent petitions – Rs. 125Application of bail and anticipatory bail before other Courts – Rs. 50 for each petitioner subject to a maximum of Rs. 250Application for petition presented to any Court, or to Magistrate in his executive capacity (Schedule II, article 11 (g) ) – Rs. 30 in District Courts, Rs. 20 in other CourtsSuits for declaration (Section 25) – Rs. 5000Suit for injunction (Section 27) – Rs. 2500Suits relating to trust property (Section 28) – Rs. 5000 or one-fifth of market value, whichever is more, if not otherwise provided for Rs – 1000Suits for possession under Specific Relief Act (Section 29) – Rs. 10,000 or one-third of market value whichever is higherSuis for possession not otherwise provided for (Section 30) – In accordance with market value of Rs. 20,000 whichever is higherSuits relating to easements (Section 31) – Amount at which relief is sought for or Rs. 5000 whichever is higher.Suits for accounts (Section 35) – amount sued or Rs. 5000 whichever is higherPartition suit (Section 37) – Rs. 500 before Munsiff Court, Rs. 2000 before Sub Court or District CourtSuits for cancellation of decrees (Section 40) – based on the market value of the propertySuits under Survey and Boundary Act (Section 45) – Rs. 5000Suits to alter or cancel entry in a register (Section 46) – Rs. 75 subject to existing provisionsSuits relating to public matters (Section 47) – Rs. 500 before Munsiff Court, Rs. 1000 before Sub Court or District CourtSuits not otherwise provided for (Section 50) – Rs. 125 before revenue court, Rs. 250 before Munsiff Court, Rs. 1000 before Sub Court and Rs, 2000 before District CourtIncome limit of eligible categories under Section 74 (Special provision regarding suits registered by trade union, member of Scheduled Castes etc.,) to Rs. 3 Lakh and limit claim amount to Rs. 10 LakhLegal benefit fund (under Section 76) to be levied for petitions under Section 34 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act at the rate of 0.5% of the award amount, Rs. 100 per petition for original petition filed before Kerala High Court and petitions filed under SARFAESI ActLimit court fees under Schedule I for claim amount in case of compensation of death caused by any criminal act, grievous hurt, defamation, malicious prosecution to 1% of the total claimFees under Schedule II; Fees for Arbitration request/ application before High Court – Rs. 1000;Fees under Schedule II; Fees for original petitions Not otherwise provided for (Article 11(m) of Schedule II) – 1% of amount awardedFees under Schedule II; Memorandum of Appeal under Section 39 of Arbitration Act (Article 4 under Schedule II) – Rs. 500, 2000 and 5000 respectivelyApplication for execution of foreign awards (Article 11(n) of Schedule II) – upto Rs. 1,00,000 – 1% of the claim, 1,00,0001-10,00,000(1% of the first 1,00,000 and 0.75% of the remaining amount. In the same manner amount upto to Rs. 1 Crore at 0.5%, and amount exceeding Rs. 1 Crore at 0.25% subject to maximum of Rs. 50,000For enhanced amount in land acquisition references; For amount between Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 1,00,000 – fee shall be Rs. 500; between 1,00,000 to Rs. 5,0000 – fee shall be Rs. 4 for every 100, Between 5 Lakh – 10 Lakh – fee for first 5 Lakh shall be Rs, 4 and for every remaining Rs. 100, fee shall be at the rate of Rs. 1; Between 10 Lakh – Rs. 20 Lakh, fee shall be Rs. 0.75 for every Rs. 100; between Rs. 20 Lakh – Rs. 50 Lakh, fee shall be Rs. 0.50 for every Rs. 100; between Rs. 75 Lakh – Rs. 1 Crore – fee shall be Rs 0.10 foe every Rs.100, Above Rs. 1 Crore – fees shall be Rs. 0.01 for every Rs. 100.Court fees for Habeas corpus and PIL's exemptedElection petitions challenging the election of member of Village Panchayath – Rs 250Election petitions challenging the election of President or Vice President of Village Panchayath- Rs 500Election petitions challenging the election of member of block Panchayath- Rs 1000Election petitions challenging the election of President or Vice President of Block Panchayath- Rs 2000Election petitions...

Kerala Budget 2025-26: Court Fee To Be Increased, Proposal To Establish A Centre For Legal Studies, Funds To Curb Cyber Bullying, Fake News

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