Court Fees Act • Official Statutory Text & Practice Guide
Statutory Regulation
Legal Standard
Competent Court / Tribunal
Act 1870
Section 29 of Court Fees Act: Amended document
Official Bare Act Text
Override / Mandate Mens Rea (Intent) Actus Reus (Conduct) Punishment Limitation Monetary
Where any document is amended in order merely to correct a mistake and to make it conform to the original intention of the parties, it shall not be necessary to impose a fresh stamp.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 29
Section 29 of the Court Fees Act, 1870 provides that where an amended document is filed in court merely to correct a mistake and make it conform to the original intention of the parties, no fresh court fee shall be payable.
Amended Document Exemption: Where any document for which a fee is payable is amended in order merely to correct a mistake and to make it conform to the original intention of the parties, it shall not be necessary to impose a fresh fee.
Clerical & Typographical Corrections: Applies to amended plaints or petitions correcting party names, typographical errors, or clerical descriptions.
Exception: Enhanced Relief Claims: If the amendment introduces new substantive reliefs or enhances the quantum of damages, additional ad valorem court fee must be paid on the difference.
Key Landmark Precedents:
Suhrid Singh v. Randhir Singh, (2010) 12 SCC 112: The Supreme Court noted that amendments merely clarifying existing prayers do not attract additional court fee liability under Section 29.
S. Rm. Ar. S. Sp. Sathappa Chettiar v. S. Rm. Ar. Rm. Ramanathan Chettiar, AIR 1958 SC 245: Affirmed that formal amendments correcting errors do not constitute fresh filings.
Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:
When amending a plaint under Order VI Rule 17 CPC to correct clerical misdescriptions of property boundaries, resist registry demands for additional court fees by citing Section 29.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 29
Section 29 of the Court Fees Act, 1870 provides that where an amended document is filed in court merely to correct a mistake and make it conform to the original intention of the parties, no fresh court fee shall be payable.
When amending a plaint under Order VI Rule 17 CPC to correct clerical misdescriptions of property boundaries, resist registry demands for additional court fees by citing Section 29.