Court fees in India — by state, by court (2026 reference)

• State-specific Court Fees Acts
• Filing fee: Rs 100-5,000 by court level
• Summons + service: Rs 50-200
• Certified copy: Rs 5-50/page
• Witness travel + DA: state-specific

1. Filing fee at court counter — Stamp paper or electronic.
2. Summons fee — Per defendant/witness.
3. Certified copy fee — Per page.
4. Witness charges — Travel + DA.
5. Appeal fees — Varies by court level.
6. RTI to court for fee schedule — If disputed.

• Court fee schedule (state)
• Fee receipt

• Excessive fee charged — RTI for state schedule.
• Stamp paper denied — alternative court fee in cash.
• Witness DA delayed — court order needed.
• Appeal fee disputed — petition court.

Most “delays” or “rejections” clear within 7-15 days of an RTI being filed. Use this 5-question template:

1. Status of my application no. _____ dated _____ as on date.
2. Name + designation of dealing officer assigned to my file.
3. Reasons for delay beyond the statutory timeline.
4. Copy of any noting / movement of my file in the past 30 days.
5. Likely date of resolution / decision.

Auto-fill the PIO + your case: Open the AI RTI Drafter →

Small Causes Court for sums < Rs 25K. Magistrate for criminal complaints.

Yes in many states under Sr Citizens Act. RTI for state policy.

Limited — DV Act + 498A typically. Otherwise standard fee.

Reduced or nil at HC/SC. State-specific at lower courts.

• All eCourts guides
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• Full RTI Playbook

1. Step 1: Can court fee be refunded after case settlement? (a) Court fee refund: (i) court fee paid at filing — can be refunded in certain cases, (ii) settlement before hearing — Section 16 Court Fees Act, (iii) settlement during mediation — Section 89 CPC, (b) eligibility: (i) case settled before evidence — full refund, (ii) case settled after evidence — partial refund, (iii) Lok Adalat settlement — full refund, (iv) mediation settlement — full refund, (v) withdrawn with permission — may get refund, © process: (i) apply to court — court fee refund application, (ii) court orders refund — Court Fees Act Section 16, (iii) treasury processes refund, (d) authority: Court + Treasury + State Legal Services, (e) law: Court Fees Act 1870 Section 16 + CPC Section 89 + Mediation Act 2023.
2. Step 2: Comparison table — court fee refund scenarios. (a) Settled before evidence: (i) refund: full, (ii) process: apply to court + court order, (iii) timeline: 30-90 days, (iv) example: settled before evidence; full refund; Rs 50,000 returned, (b) Settled after evidence: (i) refund: partial — 50%, (ii) process: apply to court + court order, (iii) timeline: 30-90 days, (iv) example: settled after evidence; 50% refund; Rs 25,000 returned, © Lok Adalat: (i) refund: full, (ii) process: Lok Adalat award + apply to court, (iii) timeline: 30-90 days, (iv) example: Lok Adalat settlement; full refund; Rs 1 lakh returned, (d) Mediation: (i) refund: full, (ii) process: mediation settlement + court order, (iii) timeline: 30-90 days, (iv) example: mediation settled; full refund; Rs 75,000 returned, (e) Withdrawn: (i) refund: may get — court discretion, (ii) process: apply with withdrawal order, (iii) timeline: 30-90 days, (iv) example: withdrawn with permission; refund granted; Rs 30,000 returned. (Note: Court fee refund — full if settled before evidence/Lok Adalat/mediation. Apply to court.)
3. Step 3: How to claim court fee refund. (a) Step 1: Obtain settlement/withdrawal order, (b) Step 2: File court fee refund application, © Step 3: Court passes refund order, (d) Step 4: Submit to treasury — process refund, (e) Step 5: If delayed — file RTI with court/treasury, (f) Step 6: Escalate to High Court if treasury delays.
4. Step 5: Practical tips. (a) keep court fee receipt + settlement order, (b) Lok Adalat — full refund + fast, © RTI with treasury for delay, (d) mediation — best route for settlement, (e) Example: A business dispute settled in mediation; court fee of Rs 1.5 lakh refunded in 60 days.
5. Step 6: Key provisions. (a) Court Fees Act 1870 Section 16, (b) CPC Section 89: mediation, © Mediation Act 2023, (d) Lok Adalat: full refund, (e) RTI: file with court/treasury.

See Court Fee Refund and RTI Penalty and How to File RTI.