Section 458: Fees in proceedings before the court of the district judge

(1) The ¹*** Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, prescribe what fee shall be paid—

(a) on any application, appeal or reference under this Act or any bye-law made thereunder to the court of the district judge of Delhi; and

(b) for the issue, in connection with any inquiry or proceedings before that court under this Act or such bye-law, of any summons or other process: Provided that the fee, if any, prescribed under clause (a) shall not, in cases in which the value of the claim or subject matter is capable of being estimated in money, exceed the fees leviable for the time being under the provisions of the Court-Fees Act, 1870 (7 of 1870), in cases in which the amount of the claim or subject matter is of a like amount.

(2) The ¹*** Government may, by like notification, determine the person by whom the fee, if any, prescribed under clause (a) of sub-section (1), shall be payable.

(3) No application, appeal or reference shall be received by the court of the district judge until the fee, if any, prescribed therefor under clause (a) of sub-section (1) has been paid:

Provided that the court may, in any case in which it thinks fit so to do,—

(i) receive an application, appeal or reference made by or on behalf of a poor person, and

(ii) issue process on behalf of any such person, without payment or on part payment of the fees prescribed under this section.