---
title: "Madras High Court — what it hears from Chennai"
description: "The Madras High Court sits in Chennai. For a Chennai matter it hears writ petitions and appeals, and on its original side it tries civil suits valued above one crore rupees — the ceiling of the City Civil Court since 1 February 2019."
url: https://vakyl.in/courts/madras-high-court/
---

# Madras High Court — what it hears, and when a Chennai matter goes there

In short

The Madras High Court sits in Chennai. For a Chennai matter it hears **writ petitions and appeals**, and on its **original side** it tries civil suits valued **above one crore rupees** — the ceiling of the City Civil Court since 1 February 2019. A suit valued at one crore or less starts in the City Civil Court instead.

## What does the Madras High Court hear?

Writ petitions, appeals, and civil suits above the City Civil Court limit on the original side.

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| Up to ₹10 lakh | Assistant Judge, City Civil Court |
| Above ₹10 lakh, up to ₹1 crore | Principal or an Additional Judge, City Civil Court |
| Above ₹1 crore | Madras High Court, original side |
| Ceiling history | Raised from ₹25 lakh to ₹1 crore with effect from 1 February 2019 — most material still online gives the old figure. |
| Writs and appeals | Filed in Chennai itself, rather than travelling for them. |

## Does your matter belong here?

It probably does if:

- Your civil suit — partition, declaration of title, injunction, cancellation of a deed, money recovery or possession — is valued above one crore rupees.
- You are filing a writ petition, or an appeal that lies to the High Court.
- A child has been removed to another state: a habeas corpus petition before the High Court is sometimes used to secure a quick production and an interim arrangement.

### What looks as if it belongs here and does not?

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| A civil suit valued at one crore rupees or less | [City Civil Court, Chennai](https://vakyl.in/courts/city-civil-court-chennai/) |
| Divorce, maintenance in a matrimonial case, custody | [Family Court, Chennai](https://vakyl.in/courts/family-court-chennai/) |
| A tenancy under the 2017 Act | [Rent Court — the Court of Small Causes](https://vakyl.in/courts/rent-authority-and-rent-court/) |

## Where is the Madras High Court?

Madras High Court Chennai 600104

Official website: [hcmadras.tn.gov.in](https://hcmadras.tn.gov.in/)

## Which guides apply here?

[**How a partition suit actually works**Partition suit · 9 min read](https://vakyl.in/practice/partition-suit/) [**Suits for declaration — protecting your title**Declaration of title · 9 min read](https://vakyl.in/practice/declaration-of-title/) [**Injunction suits in Chennai**Injunction suit · 9 min read](https://vakyl.in/practice/injunction/) [**Setting aside a settlement or sale deed**Nullifying a void deed · 10 min read](https://vakyl.in/practice/cancellation-of-deed/) [**Money recovery suits in Chennai**Recovery suit · 10 min read](https://vakyl.in/practice/money-recovery/) [**Someone will not vacate: Rent Court or civil court?**Eviction · 8 min read](https://vakyl.in/practice/eviction/) [**Child custody and visitation**Custody & visitation · 10 min read](https://vakyl.in/practice/child-custody/)

## Which other courts sit in Chennai?

[City Civil Court, Chennai](https://vakyl.in/courts/city-civil-court-chennai/)[Family Court, Chennai](https://vakyl.in/courts/family-court-chennai/)[Court of Small Causes, Chennai](https://vakyl.in/courts/court-of-small-causes-chennai/)[Rent Authority and Rent Court](https://vakyl.in/courts/rent-authority-and-rent-court/) [All Chennai courts](https://vakyl.in/courts/)

## Where do these facts come from?

- [Madras High Court — Contact (official website)](https://hcmadras.tn.gov.in/contact.php)
- [Madras High Court — official website](https://hcmadras.tn.gov.in/)
- [Chennai City Civil Court (Amendment) Act, 2018 — pecuniary limit raised to one crore](https://stationeryprinting.tn.gov.in/extraordinary/2018/405_Ex_IV_2.pdf)
- [Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 — s.16](https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/2191/1/A190805.pdf)
- [Guardians and Wards Act, 1890](https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/2318/1/189008.pdf)

Jurisdiction as stated in the guides linked above. Address and website checked against the official sources on 8 November 2026. General information, not advice on your facts.

If you are unsure whether your matter belongs in this court, a paid consultation can tell you before anything is filed.

₹500 for 30 minutes · in person, phone or video · Tamil or English

[Book a Consultation](https://vakyl.in/book-consultation/)