Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
(1)(a) In every suit the Court shall, before ordering the plaint to be registered, decide on the allegations contained in the plaint and on the materials furnished by the plaintiff the proper fee payable thereon. (b) The decision of the Court under clause (a) regarding the proper fee payable shall be subject to review from time to time as occasion requires. (2) Any defendant may plead that the subject-matter of the suit has not been properly valued or that the fee paid is not sufficient. All questions arising on such pleas shall be heard and decided before the hearing of the suit as contemplated by Order XVIII in the First Schedule to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act 5 of 1908). If the Court decides that the subject-matter of the suit is not properly valued or that the fee paid is not sufficient, the Court shall fix a date before which the subject-matter of the suit shall be valued in accordance with the Court's decision and the deficit fee shall be paid. If within the time allowed, the subject-matter of the suit is not valued in accordance with the Court’s decision or if the deficit fee is not paid, the plaint shall be rejected and the Court shall pass such order as it deems just regarding costs of the suit. (3)(a) A Court of Appeal, in which an appeal is filed, may, either of its own motion or on the application of any Statement of particulars of subject-matter of suit and plaintiff’s valuation thereof. Decision as to proper fee. 6 [Act No. VII of 1956] party, consider the correctness of any order passed by the lower Court regarding the fee payable on the plaint or written statement or in any other proceeding in the lower Court and determine the proper fee payable thereon. Explanation.—The power exercisable by a Court of appeal under this clause shall be exercisable even if the appeal relates only to a part of the subject-matter of the suit. (b) If the Court of Appeal decides that the fee paid in the lower Court is not sufficient, the Court shall require the party liable to pay the deficit fee within such time as may be fixed by it. (c) If the deficit fee is not paid within the time fixed and the default is in respect of a relief which has been dismissed by the lower Court and which the appellant seeks in appeal, the appeal shall be dismissed, but if the default is in respect of a relief which has been decreed by the lower Court, the deficit fee shall be recoverable as if it were an arrear of land revenue. (d) If the fee paid in the lower Court is in excess of the proper fee, the Court shall direct the refund of the excess to the party who is entitled to it. (4) Any question relating to the value for the purpose of determining the jurisdiction of Courts shall be heard and decided before the hearing of the suit as contemplated by Order XVIII in the First Schedule to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act 5 of 1908).