Kerala High Court Advocates Association Opposes Hike In Court Fees

The KHCAA stated that the Expert Committee has given recommendations for enhancing the court fees without understanding the ground realities. The proposal to revise court fees was announced during the 2024 budget speech. The proposal includes a 5% increase in court fees for cheque cases under the Negotiable Instruments Act, as well as the introduction of court fees for Family Court petitions. Presently, the Expert Committee is holding public hearings and seeking opinions from various stakeholders regarding the revision of court fees.

KHCAA stated that they strongly condemned the act of the Government for unilaterally relying upon the Expert Committee recommendations to increase the court fees. It is stated that after implementation of the hike in Court fees, the Expert Committee is now seeking suggestions and opinions through public hearings.

They also stated that justice is the core of the Preamble of our Constitution and thus court fees cannot be considered as revenue for dispensation of justice. Further, KHCAA added that the state government has a duty to provide access to justice to all its citizens. It also stated that holding public hearings and spending public money on it now shows that the Expert Committee made recommendations without conducting any study.

KHCAA has also blamed the government for not taking up issues affecting the advocates in general such as failure to pass the Advocates Protection Bill.

It thus stated that if the government would not reverse the court fees hike, then they would pursue judicial remedies.

“The KHCAA has called upon Bar Associations across Kerala to call for general body meeting and pass resolution to strongly deprecate the unilateral move of the Government of Kerala to hike Court fees.”