Vidhi Codex

Bare Act

The Kerala Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1959

Civil195994 of 97 sections available8 chapters

The Kerala Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1959, regulates how court fees are calculated and collected for legal disputes within the state of Kerala, India. It applies to any private individual, business, or government entity filing lawsuits, appeals, or legal documents in Kerala’s civil, criminal, or revenue courts and public offices. This law is crucial because it standardizes the financial cost of accessing the regional justice system, ensuring that court fees are directly proportionate to the true financial value of the claims. By detailing valuation rules, fee refunds, and penalties, it manages judicial revenue and effectively discourages frivolous lawsuits.

Start reading →Read full ActSections

Chapter I Preliminary. →

  1. 1Short title, extent and commencement.
  2. 2Application of Act.
  3. 3Definitions. CHAPTER II.

Chapter II LIABILITY TO PAY FEE →

  1. 4Levy of fee in Courts and public offices.
  2. 4ALevy of fee at the time of institution of suit.
  3. 5Fees on documents inadvertently received.
  4. 6Multifarious suits.
  5. 7Determination of market value.
  6. 8Set off or counter claim.
  7. 9Documents falling under two or more descriptions. CHAPTER III.

Chapter III DETERMINATION OF FEE →

  1. 10Statement of particulars of subject-matter of suit and Plaintiff’s valuation thereof.
  2. 11Decision as to proper fee in the High Court.
  3. 12Decision as to proper fee in other Courts.
  4. 13Additional fee on issues framed.
  5. 14Relinquishment of portion of claim.
  6. 15Fee payable on written statements.
  7. 16Fee payable on appeals, etc.
  8. 17Fee payable on petitions, applications, etc.
  9. 18Court -fee Examiners.
  10. 19Inquiry and commission.
  11. 20Notice to Government. CHAPTER IV.

Chapter IV COMPUTATION OF FEE →

  1. 21Fee how reckoned.
  2. 22Suits for money.
  3. 23Suits for maintenance and annuities.
  4. 24Suits for movable property.
  5. 25Suits for declaration.
  6. 26Adoption suits.
  7. 27Suits for injunction.
  8. 28Suits relating to trust property.
  9. 29Suits for possession under the Specific Relief Act 1877.
  10. 30Suits for possession not otherwise provided for.
  11. 31Suits relating to easements.
  12. 32Pre-emption suits.
  13. 33Suits relating to mortgages.
  14. 34Suits relating to kanams.
  15. 35Suits for accounts.
  16. 36Suits for dissolution of partnership.
  17. 37Partition suits.
  18. 38Suits for joint possession.
  19. 39Administration suits.
  20. 40Suits for cancellation of decrees, etc.
  21. 41Suits to set aside attachment, etc.
  22. 42Suits for specific performance.
  23. 43Suits between landlord and tenant. .
  24. 44Suits for mesne profits.
  25. 45Suits under the Survey and Boundaries Act.
  26. 46Suits to alter or cancel entry in a register.
  27. 47Suits relating to public matters.
  28. 48Interpleader suits.
  29. 49Third party proceedings.
  30. 50Suits not otherwise provided for.
  31. 51Fee on memorandum of appeal against order relating to compensation.
  32. 52Appeals.
  33. 52AFee on Memorandum of Appeal against the order of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal or Wealth Tax Appellate Tribunal.

Chapter V Valuation of suits. →

  1. 53Suits not otherwise provided for.
  2. 54Procedure where objection is taken on appeal or revision that a suit or appeal was not properly valued for jurisdictional purposes.

Chapter VI Probates, Letters of Administration and Certificates of Administration. →

  1. 55Application for probate or letters of administration.
  2. 56Levy of fee.
  3. 57Grant of probate.
  4. 58Relief in cases of several grants.
  5. 59Inquiry by the Collector.
  6. 60Application to Court and powers of Court.
  7. 61Provision for cases where too low a fee has been paid.
  8. 62Administrator to give proper security before letters stamped.
  9. 63Relief when too high a fee has been paid.
  10. 64Recovery of penalties, etc.
  11. 65Powers of Board of Revenue. CHAPTER VII.

Chapter VII REFUNDS AND REMISSIONS →

  1. 66Refund in cases of delay in presentation of plaint etc.
  2. 67Refund in cases of remand.
  3. 68Refund where Court reverses or modifies former decision on ground of mistake.
  4. 69Refund in cases of compromise or when suit is decided on the admission of Parties.
  5. 69ARefund of court fee in case where the dispute is settled under section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
  6. 70Refund of fee paid by mistake or inadvertence.
  7. 71Instruments of partition.
  8. 72Exemption of certain documents.
  9. 73Special procedure regarding suits by societies registered under the Societies Registration Act.
  10. 73ASpecial provision regarding suits, appeals, revision etc. filed by or on behalf of the Government before the Court.
  11. 74Special provision regarding suits by registered trade union member of Scheduled Castes, etc.
  12. 74ASpecial provisions regarding certain appeals.
  13. 75Power to reduce or remit fees.

Chapter VIII Legal Benefit Fund. →

  1. 76Legal Benefit fund. CHAPTER IX.
  2. 77Collection of fees by stamps.
  3. 78Stamps to be impressed or adhesive.
  4. 78AWriting name or initials on or across the stamp.
  5. 79Amended document.
  6. 80Cancellation of stamp.
  7. 81Deduction to be made.
  8. 82Penalty.
  9. 83Power of High Court to make rules.
  10. 84Power of Board of Revenue to make rules.
  11. 85Power of Government to make rules.
  12. 86Continuance in force of existing rules.
  13. 87Repeal.

Some statutory text is still being prepared for this language version.

PDF: pending for this language.