Delhi lawyers file plea against court fee hike

New Delhi - The Delhi High Court Bar Association Tuesday moved the Delhi High Court and sought the quashing of a law aimed at a 10-fold hike in court fees. The increase would put a heavy financial burden on litigants, it said.

The association said that the Delhi government had recently notified the Court Fee (Amendment) Act, 2012, due to which the common people will have to pay a higher court fee. The act came into force Aug 1.

"The act is against the basic values and ideals of the administration of justice in a welfare state," said the petition.

The court would hear the matter Aug 9.

The Delhi government recently decided to increase the court fees to collect an additional Rs.450 crore annually.

Filing the petition against the state government, the bar association said: "The rate at which the court fees is sought to be levied negates the concept of a fee and partakes the character of tax."

"The respondent, whose primary duty is to administer justice should do so out of public revenues and not put justice up for sale."

Work in all the district courts in the capital was affected Aug 6 when lawyers went on a strike to protest against the hike in court fees.