Govt. Amends DRT Refund Rules for Court Fee Applications

The Central Government has notified the Debts Recovery Tribunals (Refund of Court Fees) Amendment Rules, 2026 amending the procedure relating to refund of court fees before Debts Recovery Tribunals (DRTs).

The amendment revises Rule 5 governing the procedure for refund of court fees in cases involving settlement between parties.

1. Amendment to Rule 5 on Refund of Court Fee

An amendment has been made to Rule 5 relating to the ‘procedure for refund of court fee’.

Pursuant to the revised provision, an application for refund of court fee may now be filed:

• By the applicant alone; or
• By the applicant and defendant jointly

before the Registrar of the Tribunal.

The application must indicate the details of the settlement for which refund of court fee is sought.

2. Relaxation From Earlier Requirement

Prior to the amendment, the rules permitted filing of a refund request only through a joint application made by both the applicant and defendant before the Registrar.

The revised framework removes this restriction by allowing the applicant to independently file an application for refund of court fees.

3. Filing Before Registrar of the Tribunal

The application for refund is required to be filed before the Registrar of the Tribunal, containing relevant particulars and settlement details supporting the request for refund.

The procedural change is intended to facilitate easier processing of refund claims arising from settlement of disputes.

4. Objective of the Amendment

The amendment seeks to simplify and provide flexibility in the refund process for court fees before Debts Recovery Tribunals.

By permitting applications to be filed by the applicant alone, the Government aims to reduce procedural hurdles, improve access to refunds and facilitate quicker resolution of post-settlement procedural requirements.