On 6 March 2026, the Delhi Government notified the Court Fees (Delhi Amendment) Act 2026, revising the provisions of the Court Fees Act, 1870 as applicable in the National Territory of Delhi.
Key Points of Court Fees (Delhi Amendment) Act 2026:
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Effective from 6 March 2026, this Amendment modifies the rules related to refund of fees.
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It substitutes Section 16, redefining the refund mechanism in cases where disputes are settled at any stage of a suit or appeal.
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Under the amended provision, a litigant is entitled to receive a full refund of the court fee paid if:
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Parties to a suit or appeal settle their dispute amicably,
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Settlement occurs at any stage of the proceedings,
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Settlement happens with or without the court’s intervention, and
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Settlement is with or without invoking any mode of dispute resolution under Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
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The provision clarifies that this benefit applies not only to the plaintiff but also to a counter-claimant, ensuring wider and fairer applicability.
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Once the suit, counter-claim, or appeal is disposed of as “settled/compromised,” the Court will issue a certificate enabling the party to receive the refund from the collector or competent authority.
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The Delhi Amendment also omits Section 16 A, which previously dealt with refund of fees on settlement before hearing.