IndiaWhat Cases Can Be Heard in Small Claims Court in India?
India does not have a dedicated 'small claims court' under a unified national law; instead, small civil disputes (up to ₹3 lakh) are handled by District Courts or Special Courts under the Commercial Courts Act, 2015 and state-specific rules.
What the Law Says
India lacks a standalone 'Small Claims Court' like in some common law jurisdictions. Instead, simplified, expedited adjudication of low-value civil disputes is governed primarily by the Commercial Courts Act, 2015 (as amended), the Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (CPC), and state-level rules such as the Delhi High Court (Original Side) Small Causes Rules, 2017.
Under Section 12(1) of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015, commercial disputes of a specified value — currently ₹3 lakh or more — fall under Commercial Courts. However, for disputes *below* ₹3 lakh, many states permit summary disposal through designated courts or tribunals applying CPC Order XXXVII (Summary Procedure) or special small causes rules.
The Delhi High Court (Original Side) Small Causes Rules, 2017 (under Article 227 of the Constitution and Section 4 of the Delhi Small Causes Courts Act, 1887) empower the Small Causes Court in Delhi to hear civil suits up to ₹20 lakh (amended via GNCTD notification dated 15.03.2023), provided they relate to recovery of money, rent, damages, or specific performance — excluding title to immovable property or defamation.
Statutory TextEvery suit in which the plaintiff seeks to recover a debt or liquidated demand in money payable by the defendant, with or without interest, arising on a contract, express or implied...
— Delhi Small Causes Courts Act, 1887, s. 4(1)(a)
What to Do
Verify jurisdiction: Confirm whether your state has a functioning Small Causes Court (e.g., Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata) and whether your claim falls within its pecuniary and subject-matter limits.
Attempt pre-litigation mediation: Under Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015, mandatory mediation applies to commercial disputes — and many states extend this to small civil claims.
File a plaint using prescribed forms (e.g., Form No. 1 under Delhi Small Causes Rules) and pay nominal court fee (often ₹10–₹100 under state stamp rules).
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Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-10-03.