Costs - Law Commission' Recommendations
"COSTS” signifies the sum of money, which the court orders one party to pay another party in respect of the expenses of litigation incurred. Except where specifically provided by the statute or by rule of Court, the costs of proceedings are in the Court's discretion." - Halsbury's Laws of England, 4th Edn.,Vol 12, P 414
The provision for costs is intended to achieve the following goals, as pointed out by the Supreme Court in Vinod Seth vs. Devinder Bajaj,
(a) It should act as a deterrent to vexatious, frivolous and speculative litigations or defences. The spectre of being made liable to pay actual costs should be such, as to make every litigant think twice before putting forth a vexatious, frivolous or speculative claim or defence.
(b) Costs should ensure that the provisions of the Code, the Evidence Act and other laws governing procedure are scrupulously and strictly complied with and that parties do not adopt delaying tactics or mislead the court.
(c) Costs should provide adequate indemnity to the successful litigant for the expenditure incurred by him for the litigation. This necessitates the award of actual costs of litigation as contrasted from nominal or fixed or unrealistic costs.
(d) The provision for costs should be an incentive for each litigant to adopt alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes and arrive at a settlement before the trial commences in most of the cases. In many other jurisdictions, in view of the existence of appropriate and adequate provisions for costs, the litigants are persuaded to settle nearly 90% of the civil suits before they come up to trial.
(e) The provisions relating to costs should not however obstruct access to courts and justice. Under no circumstances, the costs should be a deterrent, to a citizen with a genuine or bona fide claim, or to any person belonging to the weaker sections whose rights have been affected, from approaching the courts.
The Law Commission of India in its 240th Report in 2012 recommended inter alia :
(1) Costs in civil suits/proceedings should be such as to curb false and frivolous litigation and to discourage adjournments on feeble grounds or for ulterior purpose. Further, the costs to be awarded to a successful party should be realistic and reasonable and to this effect the rules in vogue should be revisited by the High Courts.
(2) The principle that costs should follow the event which finds statutory recognition in Section 35 of CPC ought to be given effect to by the Courts with all seriousness and the deviations should be rare. The recent decision of Supreme Court in Sanjeev Kumar Jain (2011, JT (12), 435) has laid stress on this aspect.
However, the award of costs should not cause undue hardship to the parties who by virtue of their socio-economic circumstances may not have paying capacity.
(3) a) The rules framed by the High Courts in relation to costs especially the advocate's fee should be thoroughly revised so as to accord with the principle of realistic and adequate costs [The aspects on which the Committee of the High Courts should focus their attention while revising the rules in this regard are discussed at various places, especially paras 4.2, 4.3, 5 and 6
b) The rules must be updated and language to be made simpler so as to impart clarity. Unnecessary and outdated rules ought to be weeded out. The format of bill of costs needs to be revised. The procedure for filing fees certificate also needs a change.
(4) Adjournment costs should be sufficiently high and with a view to ensure this, the High Courts may, by virtue of practice directives or circulars, lay down guiding principles. Uniformity in approach on the part of the trial judges in granting costs for adjournments ought to be developed.