Vakalatnama

A person / party filing a case, May also represent their own case personally in any court.
However, due to lack of knowledge of Law and Technical Procedures, Lawyers are engaged to
report the interest of parties.
" Vakalatnama", is a document, by which the party filing the case authorizes the Advocate to
represent on their behalf?
On General Terms, a Vakalatnama may contain the falling terms :
The client will not hold the Advocate responsible for any decision.
The client shall bear all the costs and /expenses incurred during the proceedings.
The advocate shall have right to retain the documents, unless complete fees are paid.
The client is free to disengage the Advocate at any stage of the Proceedings.
The Advocate shall have all the right to take decisions on his own in the court of Law, during the
hearing, to the best interest of client.
Vakalatnama is affixed on the last page of plaint / suit and is kept along with court records.
No fees are required to be paid on it. However, nowadays, Delhi High court Rules require, a 10
Rupees. "Advocate Welfare Stamp" to be affixed on the Vakalatnama.
Plaint should also have the requisite court fees attached to it. Court fees are some nominal
percentage of the value of the claim or value of the suit. The requisite amount of Court and stamp
fees is different for every suit, and is mentioned in the "Court Fees Stamp Act."
Court Fees
Different amount of court fees is paid for different type of documents.
Some of them are as follows ;
In case of plaint / written statement == 10 RS. == if the value of the suit exceed Rs.5,000/- upto
10,000/-
Plaint , in a suit for possession == Fee of one half of the amount above.
On a copy of a Decree or order == ( 50 paisa ) == if the amount or value of
Having the force of a decree the subject matter of the suit wherein such decree or order is made
is fifty or less than fifty rupees.
Value of Suit
Value of suit exceeds Rs. 1,50,000-1,55,000 == Rs. 1700/-
Value of suit exceeds Rs. 3,00,000-3,05,000 == Rs. 2450/-
Value of suit exceeds Rs. 4,00,000-4,05,000 == Rs. 2950/-
Finally, a date shall be given to the plaintiff, for first hearing. On such hearing, the court will decide
whether the proceedings should continue or not. If it decides, that the case no merits, then it will dismiss it
there itself, without calling opposite party. If it decides otherwise, then proceedings shall