The Third Schedule to the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 prescribes court fees for original jurisdiction, appellate proceedings and miscellaneous filings. The tables below set out the listed amounts, including the special rates for subject categories under Part IV. Court fees are distinct from advocates' professional fees, printing expenses and other litigation costs.
Important: Check the latest Supreme Court Rules, amendments, case category and Registry instructions before payment. The Supreme Court (Amendment) Rules, 2025 also provide a mechanism for modifying Part IV subject categories. Exemptions and credits depend on the applicable provisions.
Article 145(1)(f) of the Constitution empowers the Supreme Court, subject to parliamentary law and Presidential approval, to make rules concerning fees payable in the Court. Article 32 permits approaching the Supreme Court for enforcement of fundamental rights. Article 136 empowers the Supreme Court to grant special leave to appeal in its discretion. An SLP is a petition seeking that leave, not an appeal as of right. A caveat is a request for notice and an opportunity to be heard before an order is passed in the relevant proceeding. A vakalatnama authorises an advocate to act for a litigant. A curative petition is an exceptional remedy following dismissal of a review petition, governed by the applicable Supreme Court procedure.
The Rules distinguish fees at institution from those arising at the after-notice stage and prescribe valuation-based amounts and ceilings in certain appellate matters. The Registry or Taxing Officer determines disputes concerning valuation, subject category and fee, subject to the prescribed appeal to a Judge in Chambers.
Official sources: Supreme Court Rules and amendments, Supreme Court of India, and Supreme Court legal aid and court-fee guidance.
| Purpose | Filing Fee Rs. |
|---|---|
| Filing and registering plaint | 2,500/- |
| Filing and registering written statement | 500/- |
| Filing and registering set-off or counter-claim | 500/- |
| Reply to a counter-claim | 500/- |
| Petitions under Article 32 of the Constitution other than petitions for habeas corpus and petitions arising out of criminal proceedings | 500/- |
| Purpose | Filing Fee Rs. |
|---|---|
| Petition for special leave to appeal other than petitions for which Court fee has been distinctly prescribed in entry 2 below | 1,500 [At the time of institution] |
| Petition for special leave to appeal in the matters falling in any of subject categories mentioned in Part IV of this Schedule | 5,000 [At the time of institution] |
| Lodging and registering petition of appeal/SLP at after notice stage/other than the matters for which Court Fee has been distinctly prescribed in entry 4 below Where the amount or value of the subject-matter in dispute does not exceed Rs. 50,000. | 1,500 |
| For every Rs. 50,000 or part thereof, in excess of Rs. 50,000 | 500 |
| In case where it is not possible to estimate at a money value the subject-matter in dispute: | 1500 |
| Provided- (1) that the maximum fee payable in any case shall not exceed Rs. 10,00,000 and (2) that where an appeal is brought by special leave granted by the court or where notice is issued in the special leave petition by the Court, credit shall be given to the appellant/ petitioner, as the case may be, for the amount of court-fee paid by him at the time of institution of SLP/Notice and no more court fee will be charged even if leave is subsequently granted in 'after notice' matter and the petition is converted into an appeal. | |
| Lodging and Registering of appeal/SLP at 'after notice' stage/in the matters falling in any of subject categories mentioned in Part IV of this Schedule where - | |
| (i) value of the subject matter in dispute does not exceed Rupees one lakh. | 5,000 |
| (ii) for every Rs. 50,000 or part thereof in excess of Rs. 1,00,000 till the value reaches Rs. 20,00,000 | 1,000 |
| (iii) for every Rs. 1,00,000 or part thereof in excess of Rs. 20,00,000: | 1,000 |
| Provided- | |
| (1) The maximum fee payable in any case shall not exceed Rs.25,00,000 (2) That where an appeal is brought by special leave granted by the Court or where notice is issued in the Special Leave Petition by the Court credit shall be given to the appellant/petitioner, as the case may be, for the amount of court-fee paid by him at the time of institution of SLP/Notice and no more court fee will be charged even if leave is subsequently granted in 'after notice' matter and the petition is converted into an appeal. | |
| (3) In case where it is not possible to estimate at a money value the subject-matter in dispute. | 5,000 |
| Purpose | Filing Fee Rs. |
|---|---|
| Lodging of caveat | 500 |
| Application for review of judgment or order of Court | The same fee as was paid on the original proceedings |
| Curative Petition | The same fee as was paid on the original proceedings |
| Appeal under Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (historical schedule wording; for current consumer matters, check the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and Registry classification) | 5,000 |
| (i) Transfer petitions other than the petitions arising out of Matrimonial Disputes | 2,500 per matter to be transferred |
| (ii) Transfer Petitions arising out of Matrimonial Disputes | 500 per matter to be transferred |
| Election Petition under Order XLVI of these Rules | 20,000 along with security deposit of Rs. 50,000 |
| Appeal under Section 38 of the Advocates Act, 1961 | 5,000 |
| Appeal under Section 116A of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951 | 20,000 |
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For the purpose of this Schedule-
1. Matter disposed of after hearing the caveator shall be treated to have reached "after notice" stage. 2. Any dispute regarding subject category, valuation, court fee payable or recovery of court fee shall be dealt with and decided by the Registrar/Taxing Officer. 3. Appeal against orders of Registrar/Taxing Officer deciding subject category, valuation, court fee payable or recovery of court fee shall lie to the Judge in Chambers whose decision in this regard shall be final. 4. Registrar/Taxing Officer shall take suitable steps for recovery of unpaid court fee by placing office report before the Court, if the case is still pending in the Court. Where a matter has been disposed of and for any purpose is pending before any High Court/Subordinate Court/Tribunal, Forum or Authority, the Registrar/Taxing Officer shall report the fact in writing to the concerned High Court/Subordinate Court/Tribunal, Forum or Authority, as the case may be, to direct the petitioner/appellant to first pay/settle unpaid court fee in this Court, or, steps may be taken to recover unpaid court fee as arrears of land revenue. |
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| Purpose | Fees Rs. |
|---|---|
| Vakalatnama | 10 |
| Every application to the court not specially provided for | 100 |
| Every application to the court by notice of motion where an ad interim ex-parte order is prayed for | 200 |
| Every application to a Judge in Chambers, the Registrar or Taxing Officer not specially provided for | 50 |
| Every affidavit affirmed or sworn | 20 |
| N.B.: In the case of references under the Constitution/any statute, such of the above fees as may be appropriate shall be charged. | |
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No Court fee shall be payable on the following cases: (i) References, but fees in relation to 'Part-III Miscellaneous' shall be charged. (ii) Criminal cases (SLPs/Appeals/WPs/TPs (etc.) . (iii) Cases filed by Supreme Court Legal Services Committee . (iv) Cases filed by indigent persons. (v) Contempt Petitions filed under the Rules to Regulate Proceedings for Contempt of the Supreme Court, 1975. Exemptions are subject to the scope and conditions of the applicable Rules; where specified, miscellaneous document fees may still apply. |
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General If an applicant seeks transposition as an appellant/petitioner, the court fee shall be paid by him as if he was originally a party to the case. |
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