The Kerala High Court Advocates’ Association (KHCAA) has announced a ‘pen down’ protest on April 9, during which lawyers will stay away from court proceedings.
The protest is in response to the State government’s recent hike in court fees under the Kerala Finance Bill 2025, which came into effect on April 1.
Court Fee Hike
In a letter to Chief Justice Nitin M Jamdar, the KHCAA said the massive increase in court fees ranging from 400 percent to 9,900 percent was arbitrary and unconstitutional. They argued that such a move would violate the fundamental rights of litigants, particularly the right to access justice, which is part of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution.
“The State’s unilateral decision directly affects people’s access to justice and is a serious threat to their basic rights,” the letter said.
Strike Justified
While acknowledging that the Supreme Court has often disapproved of strikes by lawyers, KHCAA stated that there are exceptions in situations where democracy is under threat. The Association believes that the current fee hike is one such instance.
“This issue does not directly benefit lawyers, but affects millions of citizens who may not even be aware of how it limits their ability to seek justice,” KHCAA added.
Judges Encouraged
The letter also noted that many court judgments have been reserved and suggested that judges could use the protest day to finalize and write those pending decisions.
“We hope the Judges will fruitfully use April 9 to pen down a few judgments,” the letter said.
In addition to the protest, the KHCAA has also filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the fee hike. The Kerala High Court heard the case today and directed the State government to submit all the data and documents it used to justify the fee increase.
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