Quick Summary: In a legal battle over land payment, T.C. Chinnasamy challenges a court fee requirement in the Madras High Court. The fight is about money for land taken for a highway project. The court decided that Chinnasamy must pay the fee to continue with his case.
T.C. Chinnasamy, the person who brought the case, was unhappy with the money offered for his land, which was taken for a highway project in Salem. The land, measuring 7125.50 sq.m, was valued at Rs.74.13 per sq.m, a rate Chinnasamy found unfair.
The District Collector of Erode, acting as a decision-maker, confirmed the amount of money. Chinnasamy, wanting more, filed a case in 2017, challenging this decision.
Chinnasamy's main issue was the court fee. He argued for not having to pay under Section 72 of the Tamil Nadu Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1955. However, the court required him to pay under Schedule II Article 1(m), capped at Rs.1 lakh.
"The petitioner is entitled to exemption under Section 72," argued Chinnasamy's lawyer, Mr. S. Subbiah.
Mr. S. Subbiah cited Supreme Court cases to support the claim for not paying the fee. However, the court maintained that the case fell under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, requiring a fee.
Mr. Su Srinivasan, representing the Project Director, argued that the fee was necessary, as the case challenged a decision under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act.
Justice P.B. Balaji ruled on December 19, 2025, that Chinnasamy must pay the required court fee within four weeks to continue his case. The judge also noted that any extra money Chinnasamy might get would not include interest for the delay from July 2018 to December 2025.
"The petitioner is obligated to pay the applicable Court fee," the judge concluded.
Chinnasamy has four weeks to pay the fee and proceed with his case. If successful, he might receive more money, though without interest for the delayed period.
