The Arunachal Pradesh Court Fees Bill 2023- Towards an Efficient Justice System
The state of Arunachal Pradesh, since the beginning had been abiding by the Court Fee Act, 1870 for all its fees payable to the High Court and Subordinate Courts of Arunachal Pradesh, as per the Assam Court Fees (Amendment) Act, 1972. However, in light of a statement by the Union Law and Justice Ministry in March of 2023, the Court Fee Act, 1870, governed by the Central Govt, is being proposed to be repealed owing to it being a pre-independence and pre-constitution law.
In response to the directive made, the Arunachal Pradesh Court Fees Bill, 2023 was approved by a voice vote during the state’s Legislative Assembly on September 4, 2023. Through this bill, the fees that were being regulated under the Central Govt, will be brought under the purview of the state Govt of Arunachal Pradesh. This implies Arunachal Pradesh will have its own legislation on court fees, thereby retaining the authority over streamlining the court fee structure in various courts of the State.
Benefits of having our own Court Fee Bill in Arunachal Pradesh-
1. Generating State revenue – Through the bill, the GoAP will be able to generate revenue from the court fees proceedings, which was previously governed under the Central Govt.
2. Transparent and precise cost information – A fundamental component of fairness in legal proceedings is transparency. This fact is acknowledged by the Arunachal Pradesh Court Fees Bill 2023, which gives citizens clear and accurate information about the expenses of different legal activities. This law makes sure that the public is aware of the financial implications of the legal process, from document filing to appeals and judicial procedures.
3. Exemptions for Specific Scenarios – The bill allows exclusions under certain conditions, indicating a careful consideration of the requirements of the general public. For example, individuals can anticipate exemption from some costs in the fields of land revenue applications, irrigation water supply, and marriage registration. Taking particular circumstances into account is in line with the objective of improving the judicial system’s equity.
4. Enhanced Convenience through Electronic Payments – By including electronic payment methods, the bill recognises the growing trend of a world that depends more and more on digital solutions. By streamlining the fee collection process, this contemporary method improves convenience for citizens interacting with the legal system. In addition to being effective, electronic payments are compliant with modern banking standards.
5. Proper document stamping for safeguarding interests – The importance of proper document stamping cannot be overstated. The bill emphasises the significance of this process to avoid document invalidation. This measure safeguards citizens’ interests by ensuring that their legal documents are valid and held up in court.
All things considered, the government’s steadfast dedication to creating an unbiased and responsible legislation for the regulation of court fees is a significant move towards ensuring a fair judicial system in the state. It is anticipated that the passage of this measure will demonstrate this commitment, as well as mitigate corruption along the way.
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