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What is the average cost of filing a case in the Supreme Court?

What is the average cost of filing a case in the Supreme Court?

29-Jul-2025

Supreme Court

Answer By law4u team

The average cost of filing a case in the Supreme Court of India can vary widely based on the nature of the case and whether a party hires a lawyer or appears in person. Here's a general breakdown: Court Fees: Petition filing fees are usually very nominal. For example: Writ Petition – ₹500 Civil Appeal – ₹250 Special Leave Petition (SLP) – ₹150 For litigants eligible for legal aid or filing in forma pauperis, fees may be waived. Lawyer's Fees: Senior Advocates: ₹1,00,000 to ₹10,00,000+ per appearance Regular Advocates: ₹10,000 to ₹1,00,000+ per hearing Documentation, drafting, and filing may cost ₹10,000 to ₹50,000+ depending on the lawyer Other Expenses: Typing, printing, affidavits, notary, and courier: ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 Travel and accommodation (if the litigant is from outside Delhi): variable Average Estimate: If self-represented: ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 With a regular lawyer: ₹50,000 to ₹2,00,000 With a senior advocate: ₹2,00,000 to ₹10,00,000 or more Free legal aid is available through the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC) for eligible persons (based on income, category, etc.).

Answer By Ayantika Mondal

Dear Client, The type of petition (civil criminal writ SLP etc. ) determines the average cost of filing a case in the Supreme Court of India. ). The filing court costs are quite small, usually falling between ₹200 and ₹500. Engaging a Supreme Court Advocate-on-Record (AOR) advocate fees documentation printing charges and associated expenses however are the main expenses. Depending on the intricacy and length of the case, litigation in the Supreme Court can typically cost anywhere from ₹50000 to ₹200000 or more. I hope this answer helps. In case of future queries, please feel free to contact us. Thank you.

Answer By Ayantika Mondal

Dear Client, Statutory charges (court fees and other expenses) and professional fees (advocates’ fees). 1. Statutory fees and court charges. These we present to you the official charges which the Supreme Court registry has put forth. They are out in the open for the most part and are included in the Supreme Court Rules. Court Fees: These at the time of filing of the petition or application. By way of example the court fee in case of a Writ Petition (except for habeas corpus petitions) is Rs. 500. This is a small component of the total cost. Printing and Documentation: This also includes the preparation of paper books, annexures and other documents. For stenography, photocopying and printing we may see large expenses which depend on the size of the case file. Miscellaneous Expenses: These have a variety of small scale but repeating costs such as:. Filing charges for various applications. Affidavit swearing charges. Charges for certified copies of documents. Postage and fee for dispatch of notices and documents to the other party. 2. Professional charges of lawyers. This is a primary and very variable element of the cost. As for statutory fees which are regulated, advocate fees depend on the following factors:. Seniority and Reputation of the Advocate: A senior advocate that has a proven track record and a high success rate will put forth a much higher fee than a junior advocate or an Advocate-on-Record (AOR). We see that which senior advocates practice the most also charge off in lakhs of rupees for a single court appearance. Type of Case: In what type of case we are dealing with (civil, criminal, constitutional) that will determine the fees. Number of Hearings: Many lawyers -- which includes senior advocates charge per appearance or hearing. We see that the total fee goes up with each court date also if the issue is not resolved quickly. Location and Travel: If on the issue of travel for the case the advocate is required to go then that may include travel and accommodation and a daily allowance. Advocate-on-Record (AOR): According to the Supreme Court’s rules only Advocates-on-Record may file a case in that court. The fees of an AOR which handle the filing and procedural work are separate from that of the senior or arguing counsel. Cost Estimate Due to what has been said above that is not to say we may put forth a single “average cost” but we may note that a general estimate for a typical case is:. The cost can range from Rs. 50,000 to a few lakhs. The total expense may go from as low as Rs. 5 to as high as 10 lakhs or more which will depend on the seniority of the counsel and the number of hearings. For a Public Interest Litigation (PIL): The cost may go down if the lawyer is to work the case pro bono (at no charge) or for a few pence, which is a minor amount, but other legal fees will still apply. Legal Aid and Alternative Options In many cases of people which are unable to afford high scale of litigation costs the Supreme Court has a Legal Aid Scheme (Supreme Court Middle Income Group Legal Aid Society SCMIGLAS) which provides for legal assistance at a much reduced and set fee. The fees for which are fixed and which are much lower that what private lawyers charge. At the start of your relationship with your advocate it is highly recommended you have a clear picture of the fee structure and that you request a in depth cost analysis. I hope this is what you were looking for. If you have more detailed questions go ahead and ask. Thank you!