Point of Law : Return of Court Fee – Settlement of dispute under S. 89 of Act – Held, not sufficient for return of Court Fee.

JUDGMENT :

The short interesting question comes forth in this matter is as under;

Mere reference of a party for settlement by recourse to Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure would entitle refund of court fee as provided under Section 69A of the Kerala Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act (hereinafter referred to as `the Act' for short), though the matter not settled finally?

2. The plaintiff in O.S.No.3/2019 on the file of the Additional Sub Court, North Paravur, has filed this Original Petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India seeking modification of order dated 07.06.2019 passed in O.S.No.3/2019 in the above Suit, whereby the learned Sub Judge referred the parties in the Suit for arbitration after closing the Suit, without order for refund of 1/10th court fee paid by the petitioner/plaintiff in the Suit.

3. The respondent herein is the defendant in the above Suit.

4. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner. Nobody appeared for the respondent.

5. It is argued by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner herein paid 1/10 court fee to the tune of Rs.1,21,840/- at the time of institution of the Suit. Since the parties were referred to arbitration, the plaintiff is entitled to get return of the 1/10 court fee paid by him. When the learned counsel was asked to point out the enabling provisions in the Act, it is fairly submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner that there is no direct provision in the Act enabling return of 1/10 court fee paid, on mere reference under Section 89 of C.P.C.

6. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner further that there is no decision on this point. However, the learned counsel given emphasis to Section 69A of the Act to canvass refund of 1/10 of court fee as contended. As per Section 69A introduced by way of amendment w.e.f 1.4.2013, it has been provided as under:

“69A. Refund of court-fee in case where the dispute is settled under Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure:-- Where a suit, appeal or other Proceeding before any Court is settled by recourse to Section 89 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act 5 of 1908), the whole court-fee paid on the plaint/Memorandum of Appeal or other Proceedings, except in interlocutory matters, shall be ordered by the Court to be refunded to the parties concerned by whom the court-fee was paid.”

A plain reading of the above provision would make it clear that when a Suit or appeal or other proceedings before any court is settled by recourse to Section 89 of C.P.C, the whole court fee paid shall be refunded except in interlocutory matters. Thus it is clear that Section 69A of the Act would come into play, only when the case is settled by recourse to Section 89 of C.P.C. It is true that settlement of disputes dealt under Section 89 of C.P.C includes `arbitration' as well. However, Section 69A of the Act makes the position without any iota of doubt that refund of court fee is provided only when a Suit, appeal or other proceedings before any court is settled by recourse to Section 89 of C.P.C and refund is not permissible on mere reference of parties. Thus it is clear that mere reference of parties by different modes of settlement provided under Section 89 of C.P.C is not sufficient to refund the entire court fee paid as contended, and the statutory mandate is settlement of the dispute by recourse to Section 89 of C.P.C. Earlier, before introduction of Section 69A, Section 69 of the Act delat with refund of court fee in cases of compromise or when Suit is decided on the admission of parties. Proviso to Section 69 of the Act introduced by way of amendment w.e.f 5.12.1990 states that no refund shall be ordered where only one-tenth of the amount of fee on plaint as required Section 4A or one-third of the amount of fee on memorandum of appeal as required by Section 52 has been paid by the parties.

7. While pressing for refund of court fee, the learned counsel for the petitioner placed a Division Bench deci