Small Cause courts Bills get President assent

Under the provisions of the Presidency Small Cause Courts Act-1882, the financial jurisdiction of the Small Cause Court was only Rs 2 lakh since 2002. The pecuniary jurisdiction of a civil judge, whose cadre is junior to that of a judge of Small Cause Court, was raised to Rs 10 lakh in 2014.

Considering this and in view of the fall in purchase value of the rupee and the substantial appreciation in the value of immoveable property in recent times, it was considered necessary to raise the financial jurisdiction of Small Cause Court from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10.

Currently, court fees in legal suits, appeals and applications filed in Small Cause Courts, and process fees are applicable according to the provisions of Gujarat Court Fees Act-2004. This has been raised by the amendment. Under the Provincial Small Cause Courts Act too the financial jurisdiction of the courts has been increased from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.