New Delhi: Your legal battle may soon
get costlier with Delhi Government on Monday deciding to increase
the court fees by 10-fold to shore up its coffers by around
Rs 450 crore annually.
A Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister
Sheila Dikshit today approved the Court Fees (Delhi Amendment)
Bill 2011 which seeks to enhance the court fees on various
instruments and documents. The bill will be placed before the
Delhi Assembly during the Monsoon session.
Justifying the decision, Revenue Minister A K Walia
said the court fees were last amended in 1958 by the Punjab
Government which were extended to Delhi and the same have
continued till date in the national capital.
"The rates were fixed way back in 1958. They are still
continuing. That is why we wanted to rationalise the rates,"
said Walia.
The revenue collection from court fees will go up to
Rs 500 crore annually from current Rs 50 crore when the new
rates come into effect.
The Court Fees Act, 1870 provides for levy of court
fees on various documents and instruments at the time of
filing or presenting such documents before the courts.
The Cabinet also discussed the issue of resentment
among certain section for use of the word 'Chuhra' to specify
the caste of those belonging to the Valmiki Community while
issuance of caste certificate to them.
The Cabinet decided to stop use of the particular word
with immediate effect and decided to send a communication to
the Union Home Ministry for making an amendment in this regard
in the relevant law.
PTI
First Published: Monday, July 25, 2011, 23:16