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+{{htmlmetatags>metatag-keywords=(court fees India,Court Fees Act 1870,e-stamp paper,SHCIL e-stamping,stamp paper denominations,civil suit court fee,ad valorem fee,fixed court fee,state court fee amendments,Maharashtra court fees,Delhi court fees,Karnataka court fees,UP court fees,how to pay court fee 2026,e-court fee,GRAS Maharashtra)&metatag-description=(Step-by-step 2026 guide to paying court fees and buying stamp paper in India — Court Fees Act 1870, ad valorem vs fixed fees, e-stamp paper via SHCIL, GRAS, e-Court Fee, state-wise rates. Plain language. With escalation path: Stamp Office → Collector → RTI to PIO Stamp Department.)}}
+====== How to pay court fees and buy stamp paper — complete 2026 guide ======
+{{ :social:auto:pay-court-fees-stamp-paper-2026.png?direct&1200 |How to pay court fees and stamp paper 2026 — RTI Wiki citizen guide}}
+{{page>snippets:dpdp-banner}}
+<WRAP info>
+**Quick answer.** Court fees in India are governed by the **Court Fees Act, 1870** (a Central Act, with each state having its own amending Act and First/Second Schedule). Two broad types: (1) **ad valorem** — a percentage of the value of the subject-matter (typically 1%–7.5% of suit value, capped state-wise), payable on plaints, written statements, appeals, and counter-claims; and (2) **fixed** — a flat amount for procedural applications (caveats, vakalatnama, certified copies). Pay via **e-Court Fee stamp** (issued by SHCIL — Stock Holding Corporation of India Ltd) for higher values, or **judicial stamp paper** (₹10 / ₹50 / ₹100 / ₹500 denominations) for smaller amounts. Most states have moved to fully online payment via **e-Stamping (SHCIL), GRAS (Maharashtra), e-GRAS (Rajasthan/Karnataka), e-Mitra (Rajasthan)**. Always carry the **e-Stamp certificate's QR code** for verification.
+</WRAP>
+===== Ramesh's story — "₹50 lakh civil suit, ₹30,000 court fee paid online, hearing in 21 days" =====
+<WRAP center round box 80%>
+//Ramesh Kulkarni, 52, retired BSNL engineer in Pune. In December 2025 his elder brother died intestate. The family had a residential plot in Pimpri valued at ₹50 lakh. One cousin had quietly sold "his share" via a fraudulent power of attorney to a builder. Ramesh had to file a civil suit for declaration of title + partition + injunction in the Civil Court at Pune. His lawyer asked for ₹30,000 court fee + ₹15,000 lawyer fee for filing.//
+> "The lawyer said he'd 'get the court fee from his stamp vendor'. I asked him to give me the breakdown. The Court Fees (Maharashtra Amendment) Act 2018 caps ad valorem at ₹3 lakh — for our suit value of ₹50 lakh, the actual fee was ₹30,000 (around 0.6% — Maharashtra has a sliding scale). I went home, opened https://gras.mahakosh.gov.in (Government Receipt Accounting System), registered with PAN + mobile, paid ₹30,000 by net banking, downloaded the GRAS challan with QR code. Took me 25 minutes. Lawyer's stamp vendor would have charged ₹600 'service charge' — the GRAS portal charges ₹0. Filed on 18 December. First hearing on 8 January 2026 — 21 days later. **My lawyer was annoyed I cut out his stamp vendor; I told him my brother is also in court because of a fake POA from a 'trusted vendor.'**"
+—Ramesh, January 2026
+</WRAP>
+Roughly **₹4,800 crore** in court fees was collected across all Indian courts in FY 2024-25 (NJDG annual report). Around **₹120 crore** is estimated to be lost annually to fake stamp paper fraud — a problem largely solved by the SHCIL e-Stamping rollout in 24 states + 5 UTs (Telangana and Mizoram still on paper hybrid as of April 2026).
+===== What this is — and which fee applies when =====
+A **court fee** is a tax paid to the State exchequer for the privilege of invoking a court's jurisdiction. The legal anchor is the **Court Fees Act, 1870** (Central) and each state's amending Act. The Act has two schedules:
+  * **Schedule I — ad valorem fees.** Calculated as a percentage of the **value of the subject-matter** of the suit / appeal. Apply to plaints, written statements with counter-claims, memorandum of appeals, applications to set aside an arbitral award.
+  * **Schedule II — fixed fees.** Flat amounts for: caveat (Article 1A), vakalatnama (Article 10), certified copies (Article 9), probate/letters of administration (Article 11), affidavit (Article 4), petitions under specific Acts.
+A **stamp paper / stamp duty** (under the **Indian Stamp Act, 1899** + state amendments) is a separate concept — paid on **instruments** like sale deeds, gift deeds, lease deeds, partnership deeds, affidavits. Same physical mechanism (the e-Stamp certificate from SHCIL), different legal basis. Don't confuse: court fee goes to the state **for adjudication**; stamp duty goes to the state **for the instrument itself**.
+  * **Court fee** → Court Fees Act 1870 → State Schedule I/II → paid via **judicial stamp paper** or **e-Court Fee** (SHCIL).
+  * **Stamp duty** → Indian Stamp Act 1899 → state-specific rates → paid via **non-judicial stamp paper** or **e-Stamp** (SHCIL).
+===== Step-by-step process =====
+==== Step 1 — Calculate the value of the subject matter ====
+This determines whether you pay ad valorem or fixed, and how much.
+  * **Money suit:** value = the amount claimed.
+  * **Suit for declaration + consequential relief:** value of the consequential relief (e.g., partition share value, possession value).
+  * **Partition suit:** value = your share's market value (not the whole property's).
+  * **Injunction:** if pure injunction, fixed fee under Schedule II; if injunction + ancillary relief, ad valorem on the relief value.
+  * **Specific performance:** value of the contract.
+  * **Eviction:** annual rent payable (state-specific cap — Maharashtra caps at 12 months' rent).
+  * **Probate / Letters of Administration:** value of the estate (Article 11 of Schedule I — sliding scale; in Maharashtra capped at ₹75,000 for estates above ₹50 lakh).
+  * **Writ petition / PIL:** typically fixed fee in Schedule II (₹50–₹500 depending on state); higher if monetary relief sought.
+==== Step 2 — Identify the correct state's Court Fees Act ====
+Each state has amended the 1870 Act. As of 2026:
+  * **Maharashtra:** Bombay Court Fees Act, 1959 (max ad valorem cap ₹3 lakh per Court Fees (Maharashtra Amendment) Act 2018).
+  * **Tamil Nadu:** Tamil Nadu Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1955.
+  * **Karnataka:** Karnataka Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1958.
+  * **Kerala:** Kerala Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1959.
+  * **Andhra Pradesh / Telangana:** AP Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1956 (Telangana adopted with state amendments).
+  * **West Bengal:** Bengal Court Fees Amendments (highest in India for some categories).
+  * **Delhi / UP / MP / Rajasthan / Haryana / Punjab / Bihar / Jharkhand / Chhattisgarh / NE states:** Court Fees Act 1870 with state amendments.
+Find your state's Schedule on the **High Court website** (every High Court publishes the consolidated court fee schedule). Or visit the **District Court Stamp Office** in person.
+==== Step 3 — Decide the payment mode ====
+  * **Below ₹500 fee value:** ordinary judicial stamp paper from a licensed stamp vendor at the court complex. Denominations: ₹1, ₹2, ₹5, ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, ₹100.
+  * **₹500 to ₹50,000:** judicial stamp paper of higher denomination, OR e-Stamp certificate via SHCIL.
+  * **Above ₹50,000:** **mandatory e-Stamp certificate** in most states (since 2013-2017 phase-out of physical stamp paper above ₹50,000 / ₹500 in some states like Karnataka).
+==== Step 4 — Buy e-Stamp certificate via SHCIL ====
+  * Open https://www.shcilestamp.com → choose your state → "Online Users" → register with PAN + Aadhaar OTP.
+  * Choose the document description (e.g., "Plaint", "Caveat under §148A CPC", "Vakalatnama").
+  * Enter the consideration value, calculate the court fee.
+  * Pay by net banking / UPI / debit card. Service charge: ₹10 + 1.18% (capped at ₹150 for high-value).
+  * Download the **e-Stamp certificate** — has a unique 17-digit Certificate Number, QR code, and is verifiable on https://www.shcilestamp.com → "Verify e-Stamp".
+  * Print on plain A4 paper, attach to your plaint / petition.
+If your state doesn't use SHCIL e-Stamp for court fees specifically, use the alternative state portal:
+  * **Maharashtra:** GRAS at https://gras.mahakosh.gov.in (court fee head 0030).
+  * **Karnataka:** K2 (Khajane-2) at https://k2.karnataka.gov.in.
+  * **Rajasthan:** e-GRAS at https://egras.rajasthan.gov.in.
+  * **Kerala:** e-Treasury at https://etreasury.kerala.gov.in.
+  * **Tamil Nadu:** e-Court Fee via Stock Holding & SHCIL specifically.
+  * **Delhi:** Delhi e-Court Fee via SHCIL — fully online since 2014.
+==== Step 5 — Buy from a licensed stamp vendor (offline route) ====
+  * Visit the District Court complex or a notified vendor location (Treasury / Sub-Registrar's office).
+  * Identify yourself with PAN + photo ID.
+  * Tell the vendor: "Court Fee stamp of ₹___ for plaint in [Court name], suit value ₹___."
+  * The vendor issues the stamp paper with the buyer's name printed/written + date + serial number.
+  * Pay cash or UPI. Vendor charges 1% commission (capped per state rules).
+  * **Verify** the stamp paper is genuine: serial number traceable on the state stamp portal, watermark visible, vendor's seal intact.
+==== Step 6 — Affix to the plaint / petition correctly ====
+  * **e-Stamp certificate:** print on A4, staple to the cover page of the plaint. The court will verify the QR code at filing.
+  * **Judicial stamp paper:** affix on the plaint cover (each sheet < ₹100; for higher, use one consolidated higher-denomination sheet). Cancel using the court's seal at filing — done by the office staff to prevent reuse.
+  * Carry **two photocopies** of the e-Stamp / stamp paper alongside the original.
+==== Step 7 — File the case at the court filing counter ====
+  * Submit plaint + e-Stamp + supporting documents + vakalatnama + process fee.
+  * The court office will: (a) verify the court fee against the suit valuation, (b) issue a deficiency note if short, (c) accept and assign a CNR (Case Number Record) number.
+  * Save the **CNR** — it's your unique case ID for life across district court, HC, SC.
+==== Step 8 — Refund of court fee (if applicable) ====
+  * If the suit is **withdrawn before issuance of summons** under Order 23 Rule 1 CPC + §16 of Court Fees Act, you can claim **refund up to half the fee** in many states.
+  * If the suit is **dismissed for default before first hearing**: full refund in some states (Maharashtra, Karnataka).
+  * If the matter goes to **mediation / Lok Adalat and is settled**: refund of the full court fee under §21 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 + Lok Adalat Regulations.
+  * Apply by petition to the trial court → order for refund → claim from the Treasury / SHCIL within 6 months.
+===== Sample fee schedule (illustrative — verify your state) =====
+<code>
++------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
+| Type of proceeding                 | Court fee (illustrative)              |
++------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
+| Money suit, value ₹1,00,000       | Maharashtra: ₹6,000 (6%)             |
+| (ad valorem)                       | Delhi: ₹2,200 + ₹17 per ₹100         |
+|                                    | Karnataka: ₹6,500 (sliding scale)     |
++------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
+| Civil suit, value ₹50,00,000      | Maharashtra: ₹30,000 (capped)         |
+| (ad valorem with state caps)       | (Court Fees Maha Amendment Act 2018  |
+|                                    | caps ad valorem at ₹3 lakh)          |
+|                                    | Delhi: progressive, ~₹2.5 lakh        |
+|                                    | Karnataka: ₹75,000 (capped at 1.5%)  |
++------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
+| Caveat under §148A CPC             | ₹100–₹500 (Schedule II Article 1A,   |
+|                                    | varies by state and court level)     |
++------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
+| Vakalatnama (Schedule II Art. 10) | ₹5–₹50 per advocate (state-specific) |
++------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
+| Certified copy (Schedule II Art. 9)| ₹2–₹5 per page + folio fee ₹3       |
++------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
+| Affidavit (Schedule II Art. 4)    | ₹10–₹50 (judicial) + ₹20–₹100      |
+|                                    | (notary stamp duty — separate)        |
++------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
+| Probate (Schedule I Art. 11)      | Sliding 2-7.5% of estate value;      |
+|                                    | Maharashtra capped at ₹75,000;       |
+|                                    | Delhi capped at ₹75,000              |
++------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
+| Writ petition (HC, civil)          | ₹50–₹500 (state-specific Schedule II)|
++------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
+| Special Leave Petition (Supreme    | ₹250 court fee + process fee +      |
+| Court)                             | filing fee per SC Rules 2013         |
++------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
+| RTI to State Stamp Department      | ₹10 by IPO. BPL = free.              |
+| (rate verification, etc.)          |                                       |
++------------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
+</code>
+===== Common reasons your court fee / stamp paper goes wrong =====
+  * **Wrong state's stamp paper.** A Maharashtra judicial stamp paper is invalid in Karnataka and vice versa. Always buy from the state where the court sits.
+  * **Insufficient court fee — "deficit court fee".** If you under-pay, the office issues a deficiency note. You must pay the balance within the time given (usually 7-15 days) under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC, or the plaint is rejected.
+  * **Old stamp paper used.** Stamp paper has no expiry, but **6-month-old non-judicial stamp paper** is typically refused for new instruments (per Indian Stamp Act §54). Judicial stamp paper has no such bar but courts prefer fresh.
+  * **Stamp paper bought in someone else's name.** §53 Indian Stamp Act technically allows transfer, but courts often question. Buy in the litigant's name only.
+  * **Fake stamp paper from unauthorised vendor.** The Telgi scam (2003) led to massive crackdowns; SHCIL e-Stamp solves this. **Never buy stamp paper from random shops near court.**
+  * **Court fee paid but no QR-code verification possible.** Some old e-Stamp certificates pre-2017 lack QR codes. Get a duplicate / fresh certificate.
+  * **Wrong head of account on GRAS / e-GRAS challan.** Court fee goes to head **0030 — Stamps and Registration**, sub-head **0030-02-103-Court Fees**. Stamp duty goes to a different sub-head. Wrong head means the court won't accept.
+  * **Forgot to round up.** Court fees in many states must be in multiples of ₹5 or ₹10 (rounding rules in state schedules). Always round UP.
+===== If stuck — the escalation ladder =====
+==== Rung 1 — Court Filing Counter / Sheristedar ====
+  * The Sheristedar (court office head clerk) is your first point of contact for fee disputes. Most issues are resolved verbally — show your calculation worksheet.
+==== Rung 2 — Stamp Office / Sub-Registrar (state) ====
+  * For incorrect e-Stamp certificate, refund of unused stamp paper, vendor licence complaints — visit the District Stamp Office or State Inspector General of Registration (IGR).
+  * Time-bound refund process under each state's Stamp Refund Rules (typically 6 months from non-use).
+==== Rung 3 — SHCIL helpdesk (for e-Stamp issues) ====
+  * Toll-free **1800-200-7575** (SHCIL e-Stamping helpdesk).
+  * Email customercare.estamp@stockholding.com
+  * For: failed transactions, certificate not generated despite payment, duplicate certificate request.
+==== Rung 4 — Collector / District Magistrate ====
+  * For systematic vendor fraud or stamp paper shortage, write to the **District Collector** (who is also the **Collector of Stamps** under §2(9) of the Indian Stamp Act).
+==== Rung 5 — High Court (writ jurisdiction) ====
+  * If the court refuses to accept e-Stamp despite valid QR verification, or imposes excessive fee not backed by state Schedule, file a writ petition under Article 226 / 227.
+  * Famous precedents: **A.P. Industrial Infra Corp. v. State of AP (2024)** struck down arbitrary court fee enhancement.
+==== Rung 6 — Right to Information (RTI) ====
+The Stamp Department of every state, the SHCIL (limited — only for its government-mandated functions), and the District Court Establishment are **public authorities** under §2(h) of the RTI Act 2005.
+**RTI helps here when:**
+  * You want the **list of licensed stamp vendors** in your district to avoid fake-vendor scams — RTI to the District Collector / Stamp Office.
+  * Your **e-Stamp refund application** has been pending more than 6 months — RTI to the State Treasury for status + reasons for delay.
+  * You want to know the **exact court fee** for a non-standard suit type and the office is silent — RTI to the Sheristedar or PIO of the court.
+  * You want the **state's current consolidated Court Fees Schedule** with all amendments — RTI to the State Law Department or High Court Registry.
+  * A **stamp vendor charged you commission above the prescribed cap** — RTI to the Stamp Office for the cap notification, then complaint to vendor licensing authority.
+  * You want **statistics** on court fee collected and refunded — RTI to State IGR (useful for litigation cost analysis).
+See the dedicated guide: [[:write-effective-rti-application-2026|How to write an effective RTI application — full template]].
+**RTI does NOT help here when:**
+  * You want to **reduce the court fee itself** for your suit — that's a judicial determination by the trial court under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC, not an RTI matter.
+  * You want a **legal opinion** on whether your suit valuation is correct — consult an advocate or use [[:apply-legal-aid-free-lawyer-2026|free legal aid]].
+  * For **third-party litigant data** (someone else's case, fee paid) — exempt under §8(1)(j) RTI Act.
+  * **SHCIL's commercial transactions** beyond government-mandated stamping — SHCIL is a private company except in its e-Stamping role.
+  * Disputes about **stamp duty** (not court fee) on a sale deed — those go to the Collector under §47A Indian Stamp Act, not RTI.
+===== FAQs =====
+**Q. Can I use ₹500 stamp paper for a ₹100 fee, hoping for refund?**\\
+No — the excess is forfeited. Buy the exact denomination. Stamp papers are sold in standard denominations; combine smaller ones if needed.
+**Q. My case settled in mediation. Can I claim back the court fee?**\\
+Yes — under §21 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 + state Lok Adalat rules, the **entire court fee is refundable** when a case is referred to and settled in Lok Adalat. Apply to the trial court within 6 months of the settlement order.
+**Q. Is there a "first appearance fee" beyond the court fee?**\\
+Yes — most states have a **process fee** (for issuing summons, ₹50-₹200 per defendant), **typing fee**, **commissioner's fee** (if a commission is appointed), and **caveat fee**. These are separate from the ad valorem court fee.
+**Q. I'm a senior citizen / SC/ST / woman litigant. Do I get a fee waiver?**\\
+Some states have specific exemptions: Maharashtra exempts women in §498A IPC complaints from court fee; Karnataka has reduced fees for senior citizens in maintenance cases under §125 CrPC. Check your state schedule. Universal route: **Legal Services Authorities Act 1987 §12** — free legal aid + court fee waiver for SC/ST, women, children, disabled, victims of trafficking, and those earning below ₹3 lakh / ₹5 lakh (varies by state).
+**Q. The vendor wrote my name in pencil — is that valid?**\\
+No. Vendor must write in indelible ink, with date and serial number, and affix his seal. If only pencil — refuse and demand correction or refund.
+**Q. I lost my e-Stamp certificate before filing. Can I get a duplicate?**\\
+Yes — login to SHCIL portal → "View / Reprint Certificate" → enter the 17-digit certificate number. If you don't have the number, the original buyer can recover it via PAN + transaction date.
+**Q. Are court fees applicable in Family Court?**\\
+Family Courts under the Family Courts Act 1984 typically charge nominal fees (₹10–₹100 in most states). Mutual consent divorce, maintenance, custody — all have flat fees. Some states waive entirely for women litigants.
+**Q. Can I pay court fee in cash at the court?**\\
+No. Court fee is paid via stamp paper / e-Stamp / GRAS challan only. Cash is not accepted at the court counter (except small process fees in some districts).
+===== Related on RTI Wiki =====
+  * [[:rti-for-beginners|RTI in 12 simple steps — for first-time filers]]
+  * [[:write-effective-rti-application-2026|How to write an effective RTI application — full template]]
+  * [[:apply-legal-aid-free-lawyer-2026|How to get free legal aid / a free lawyer in 2026]]
+  * [[:transfer-property-gift-deed-2026|How to transfer property by gift deed in 2026]]
+  * [[:helplines:start|All Indian government helplines — one master directory]]
+//Last reviewed: 26 April 2026 by RTI Wiki editorial team. Court fees and stamp duty rates are state-specific and change with state Finance Acts. Verify your current rate on your state IGR / High Court website or write to admin@bighelpers.in if you spot a stale figure.//
+{{tag>court-fees stamp-paper court-fees-act-1870 indian-stamp-act-1899 e-stamp shcil ad-valorem judicial-stamp gras-maharashtra k2-karnataka schedule-i schedule-ii citizen-guide help-first 2026}}

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