What is the maximum amount I can sue for in small claims ...

What the Law Says

India does not have a uniform nationwide 'small claims court' system like the U.S. Instead, small claims are adjudicated under the Commercial Courts framework for specified monetary thresholds, supplemented by state-specific provisions under the Civil Procedure Code and local rules.

Section 16 of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015 (as amended by the Commercial Courts (Amendment) Act, 2018) empowers State Governments to constitute Small Causes Courts or designate Commercial Courts of Small Cause to handle disputes up to ₹3 lakh. This threshold was raised from ₹1 lakh in 2018.

Additionally, many states operate Small Causes Courts under the Presidency-Towns Small Cause Courts Act, 1882 (applicable in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai) or the Provincial Small Cause Courts Act, 1887 (for non-presidency towns), with jurisdictional limits set by respective State Government notifications — all capped at ₹3 lakh per the 2018 amendment.

Statutory Text

Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the pecuniary jurisdiction of the Commercial Courts of Small Cause shall be up to rupees three lakh.

— Commercial Courts Act, 2015, s. 16(1) (as amended in 2018)

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