A plaintiff’s valuation of a suit is generally prima facie accepted for the purpose of determining pecuniary jurisdiction, as the law gives the plaintiff the initial discretion to value the relief sought based on the Suits Valuation Act, 1887 and the Court Fees Act, 1870. However, this valuation is not conclusive—both the court and the defendant can challenge it if there is evidence that the plaintiff has intentionally undervalued or overvalued the claim to bring it within a particular court’s jurisdiction. Under Order VII Rule 11(b) of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, a court may reject a plaint if the valuation is arbitrary or not made in accordance with law, and it can direct the plaintiff to correct the valuation under Section 11 of the Suits Valuation Act. A defendant may also raise an objection by filing a preliminary application or written objection, supported by documents such as valuation reports, contracts, or market data demonstrating the true value of the subject matter. Courts intervene especially where the misvaluation appears to be in bad faith or materially affects the forum’s jurisdiction. Thus, while the plaintiff’s valuation carries initial weight, it remains subject to judicial scrutiny to ensure fairness, prevent manipulation, and uphold jurisdictional integrity.
