Punjab Increases Stamp Duties and Court Fees: Check New Charges

Under the Punjab Finance Act of 2024, stamp duties and court fees in Punjab have seen a significant increase, with the cost for court tickets rising to Rs. 500. The new fees for transferring cases and requesting court records are now Rs. 500. Filing an appeal, claim, or supervision also costs Rs. 500, compared to less than Rs. 150 in previous years.

For cases with an undetermined claimant’s amount, ticket prices have surged from Rs. 2 to Rs. 500. Clients will now be charged Rs. 1,000 for a ticket, affecting their ability to make claims under consumer laws. The cost of tickets for rent or eviction requests has also increased from Rs. 2 to Rs. 500. Additionally, stamp papers for affidavits have risen from Rs. 100 to Rs. 300.

In Pakistan, stamp papers for sale agreements are now priced at Rs. 3,000, while other stamp prices have increased from Rs. 100 to Rs. 500. Divorce papers now carry a stamp duty of Rs. 1,000. The fees for returning original documents have soared from Rs. 2 to Rs. 100, and obtaining certified copies of court records now costs Rs. 100 per page, up from Rs. 2.

Lawyers and activists have denounced the Punjab Finance Act of 2024 and are urging the government to reverse this decision promptly.