Jamshedpur lawyers observe token strike in protest against court fee hike

Over 2,000 lawyers of the Jamshedpur Bar Association (JBA) observed a day-long token strike today protesting against hike in the court fees in the state.

Though the increased court fee has already been implemented since July 1, 2022, the lawyers observed the strike in response to the Jharkhand Bar Council’s call because the fallout of the new fee structure has begun to impact.

The court fee has been increased four times and it is meant for not only cases of civil nature, but also for affidavit and obtaining certified copy of any document from the court.

“The unusual hike in the court fee is affecting mainly parties indulged in the landed property litigation.  Moreover, those willing to get an affidavit or a certified copy have to pay quadruple cost since July 1,” said a senior advocate Ranjan Prashad while talking to this website.

Advocate Prashad said earlier if an aggrieved person wanted to file a suit for landed property valued at Rs 20 lakhs, he or she would pay court fee to the tune of Rs 30,000. But since July 1 this year, the aggrieved person is compelled to pay Rs. 1.2 lakhs as court fee.

“If the court fee had been doubled from the existing rate, then it would be justified to some extent. But increasing the rate by four times not justified. Such unusual hike in the court fee will not only deprive the poor but will give rise to concept of out of the court settlement which will lead the litigants to indulge in coercive measure,” observed the senior advocate.

Another lawyer, Pawan Kumar who also passed his time sitting idle like advocate Ranjan Prashad said the JBA observed the token strike keeping the people’s interest in view.

“Lawyers’ fraternity cannot remain quiet as the state government increased the court fee excessively. Earlier, the registration charge of landed property as well as holding tax has been increased manifolds, ” said Kumar.

Several litigants were disappointed today as they were not aware about the strike and had come from far-flung areas of the district for attending their court date.