CPC I Assignment by YASHI
CPC I Assignment by YASHI
judiciary
A PROJECT ON
“AMENDMENT TO PLEADINGS AND THEAPPROACH TO JUDICIARY”
SUBMITTED TO:
Dr VIVEK KUMAR
CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE-I
SUBMITTED BY
YASHI
ENROLLMENT NO. 20FLICDDN02149
SIGNATURE OF FACULTY-
ICFAI LAWSCHOOL,
THE ICFAI UNIVERSITY,DEHRADUN
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CPC-I ASSIGNMENT Amendment to pleadings and its approach to
judiciary
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I owe a great many thanks to a great many people who helped and supported me during the writing of this
project.
My deepest thanks to my CPC Professor, Dr VIVEK KUMAR SIR, the guide of the project for guiding
me and correcting various documents of mine with attention and care. he has taken pain to go through the
project and make necessary corrections as and when needed.
I would also thank my Institution and my faculty members without whom this project would have been a
distant reality. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to my family and well-wishers.
YASHI
ID- 20FLICDDN02149
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CPC-I ASSIGNMENT Amendment to pleadings and its approach to
judiciary
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS:
& And
Govt. Government
HC High Court
Hon‟ble Honorable
P. Page Number
SC Supreme Court
HC High Court
v. Versus
anr Another
Edn. Edition
ER England Reporter
Etc. Et Citra.
Ltd Limited
KB Kings Bench
Para Paragraph
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CPC-I ASSIGNMENT Amendment to pleadings and its approach to
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CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. CHAPTER- 1
Pleadings
Object
Nature & scope
3. CHAPTER- 2
Amendment of pleadings
Interpretation of rule
Object of rule -17
Stages where pleading can be amended
4. CHAPTER- 3
Leave to amend when granted
Leave to amend when refused
5. CHAPTER-5
Principles
Doctrine of Relation back
Effect of 2002 amendment
Recent cases
6. PERSONAL ANALYSIS
7. CONCLUSION
8. BIBLIOGRAPHY
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CPC-I ASSIGNMENT Amendment to pleadings and its approach to
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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Aims and Objectives:
The aim of the project is to study the “Amendment to pleadings and its approach to judiciary” as
provided in order 6 Rule 17 & 18 of civil procedure code. The objective is to provide detailed
analysis of each important aspect of the with amendments of pleadings
Research questions
The researcher has explored the following questions in the course of this paper -
Q. What is the meaning of the Pleading?
Q. What are the various laws related to amendment of pleadings?
Q. What are the essentials and applicability of amendments o pleadings?
Chapterisation
The researcher has divided the research paper into sections.
The first section deals with the introduction.
The second section deals with the provisions for pleadings.
The third section studies the landmark judgements.
Sources of data
The researcher has relied on both primary and secondary sources of data. Primary sources include
the bare texts of various cases and secondary sources include books, magazines, journals and web
resources.
Mode of writing
The mode of writing is descriptive and analytical.
Mode of citation -A uniform mode of citation has been followed
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CPC-I ASSIGNMENT Amendment to pleadings and its approach to
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“Procedural law1 provides machinery for enforcement of rights created by substantive law.
Procedural law is thus an adjunct or accessory to substantive law2”
INTRODUCTION
The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 prescribes the provisions through which the amendments to
pleadings can be introduced during the trial process. Since the bygone era, the belief of almost all
the legal systems was that the courts must have unrestricted and unguided power to amend the
pleadings so as to further the cause of justice without causing an iota of injustice to the adversary
party. Rule 17 of Order VI provides for the powers to the courts in India to allow the amendments.
Adding to this, the Privy Council, the Supreme Court and other Courts in India have been
implementing this practice since the ages. In 1990s, a lot of concerns were raised as to the extent
of usage of this facility in almost all the cases litigated till then.
By the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1999, this provision relating to amendment of
pleadings was deleted. Justice Malimath Committee recommended that the rule 17 of this order be
deleted to avoid delay and to ensure speedy disposal of cases. This amendment act received the
assent of the President but was not brought into force. However, it was reintroduced by the Code
of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2002, but with a proviso and was brought into effect from
July 1, 2002
Order 6 deals with pleadings in general rule
RULE-1 Defines, pleadings
1
Deals with the enforcement of law that is guided and regulated by the practice, procedure and machinery
2
Law that defines and determine the rights and obligation of the citizen to be protected by law
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CPC-I ASSIGNMENT Amendment to pleadings and its approach to
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CHAPTER 1
PLEADING: DEFINITION-
Pleading are statements in writing drawn up and filed by each party to a case, stating what his
contentions will be at the trial and giving all such details as his opponent needs to know in order
to prepare his case in answer.
Order VI deals with pleadings in general. Rule 1 of that Order defines pleadings as a plaint or
written statement. Plaint is used to notify the opposite party of the case that is filed against him or
her. Framing of pleadings is the most fundamental and must be dealt with a lot of caution. The
reason is that, once the pleadings are framed, no one has the power to amend them expect for the
judge on his discretion.
In the absence of the pleadings, if any evidence is produced by the parties, that cannot be
considered. It is a settled law that no party must be allowed to venture beyond the pleadings. There
is a lot of litigation in this area as to the scope and extent of the liberty to amend the pleadings. In
the Common law, the pleading practice was a mechanical and rigid exercise such that misspellings
of minor details were not allowed.
OBJECT
The primary object of the rule is that the Courts should try the case based on the merits and
should subsequently allow the amendments which are must for assessing the real
controversy between the parties. This ensures that the injustice is not caused to the either
side based on minute omissions by the parties.
The object and purpose of the pleadings is to make the opposite party acquaint with the
case he has to face in the due course of time.
The whole object of the pleadings is to bring parties to the definite issues, reduce costs and
to ensure the speedy delivery of justice.
This also results in the conduct of the fair and flawless trial and the pleadings must contain all the
essential material facts so that the adversary party is not taken away by surprise. The parties are
normally expected to confine to the pleadings.
IN THE LEADING CASE OF- THROP V/S HOLDSWORTH3
The whole object of pleading is to bring parties to an issue, and the meaning of the rules (relating
to pleadings) was to prevent the issue bring enlarged, which would prevent either party from
knowing when the cause came on for trial. The whole meaning of the system is to narrow the
parties to definite issues, and to diminish expense and delay, especially as regards the amount of
testimony required on either side at the hearing
3
1876
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CPC-I ASSIGNMENT Amendment to pleadings and its approach to
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CHAPTER-2
AMENDMENT OF PLEADINGS:
RULES 17-18
As already discussed in RULE 2- material facts and necessary particulars must be stated in the
pleadings and the decision cannot be based on the grounds outside the pleadings. But many times,
the party may find it necessary to amend his pleading before or during the trial of the case.
The court may allow any party to amend or add to its complaint at any stage of the proceedings in
an appropriate manner and under reasonable conditions, clarifying the actual dispute between the
parties. The necessary corrections shall be made for this.
Code of Civil Procedure Order VI, Rule 17, provides for "brief amendments." The provision states
that at any time the court considers it fair, it may allow the parties to change the procedure. All of
these changes necessary to determine the actual issue in question between the parties are made by
the court. The CPC (Amendment) Act of 1999, which aims to limit the court's ability to amend a
complaint, adds a reservation to this provision.
When the proceedings are filed, despite the due diligence of the parties, the court states that it will
not approve the request for amendment unless the court determines that the parties were unable to
raise the matter prior to the proceedings.
4
1999
5
Special marriage act 1954
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CPC-I ASSIGNMENT Amendment to pleadings and its approach to
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OBJECT OF RULE 17
ORDER 6
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CPC-I ASSIGNMENT Amendment to pleadings and its approach to
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CHAPTER-3
LEAVE TO AMEND WHEN GRANTED
The rule confers a very wide discretion on courts in the matter of amendment of pleadings. As a
general rule, leave to amend will be granted so as to enable the real question in issue between the
parties to be raised in pleadings, where the amendment will occasion no injury to the opposite
party and can be sufficiently compensated for by costs or other terms to be imposed by the order.
IN CASE- KISANDAS V/SRACHAPPA VITHOBA6
All amendments ought to be allowed which satisfy the two conditions-
a) Of not working injustice to the other side
b) Of being necessary for the purpose of determining the real question in controversy between
the parties.
6
ILR 1909
7
AIR 1981 SC 485.
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CPC-I ASSIGNMENT Amendment to pleadings and its approach to
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(1974) 2 SCC 393
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1886 LR 16 QBD 178 (CA)
10
Pirgonda patil v kalgonda patil, AIR 1957 SC 363
11
Ganga bai v Vijay Kumar (1974) 2 scc
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CPC-I ASSIGNMENT Amendment to pleadings and its approach to
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In Patasibai v. Ratanlal, it was observed that there was no ground to allow the
application for amendment of the plaint which apart from being highly belated, was
clearly an afterthought fur the obvious purpose of averting the inevitable
consequence of rejection of the plaint on the ground that it does not disclose any
cause of action or raise any triable issue
CHAPTER- 4
THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES SHOULD BE BORNE IN MIND IN DEALING WITH
APPLICATION FOR AMENDMENTS OF PLEADINGS
1. All amendments should be allowed which are necessary for dtermination of the real controversies
in the suit.
The proposed amenments should not alter and be substitue for the cause of action on the basis o
which the original lis was raised
Proposed amendments should not cuse prejudice to the other sidewhich cannot be compensated by
the other side
no parties suffer on account of technicalities of law and the amendment should be allowed to
minimise the litigation between the parties
the delay in filing petitonsn for amendments of pleadings should be properly compensated
Error or mistake which if not fraudulent shoild be made a ground for rejecting the appliucation for
amendments pleadings
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CPC-I ASSIGNMENT Amendment to pleadings and its approach to
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This was stated by the Supreme Court in the case of Sampath Kumar vs. Ayyakanu12. The
Supreme Court made it mandatory that the party seeking to amend the pleading should mention in
the application specifically as to what is to be altered or substituted in the original pleadings[xxiv].
After a close scrutiny by Court, the Court can in its discretion relate it to the original one.
The Supreme Court in the case of Laxmidas vs. Nanabai13 explained the law on the amendment
of the pleadings. It said that the court can refuse to entertain the application for amendment if it
feels that its restraints the other party‟s legal rights which are accrued to him by lapse of time. But
it said that this rule could be applied only when fresh allegations are added by the process of
amendments and not in the cases where amendments are sought to clarify an existing pleading
where it does not add or subtract any substantial material relevant to the proceeding. Hence, the
law before the 1999 amendment was that the court has unlimited power of allowing the
amendments to be made in the cases where it merely clarifies the original pleading
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CPC-I ASSIGNMENT Amendment to pleadings and its approach to
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The Supreme Court in Baldev Singh case16- held that the term “commencement of the
trial” must be used in limited sense as meaning final hearing of the suit, examination of the
witnesses, filing of the documents and addressing the documents.
The court also placated the defendant by saying that “in the interest of the defendant, the
new reliefs sought for are considered by the court to be deemed to be made on the date on
which the application seeking amendment was filed
16
AIR 2007 SC 2832.
17
Muhammed Ashraf v. Fasalu Rahman, OP(C) No. 1374 of 2021, decided on 10-09-2021
18
Santosh Dong v. State of Sikkim, decided on 10-12-2020]
19
Naresh Kumar v. Meer Singh, 2020 SCC decided on 28-01-2020
20
Kishori Lal v. Darshan Kumar, 2019 SCC decided on 30-08-2019]
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CPC-I ASSIGNMENT Amendment to pleadings and its approach to
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Civil Judge of dismissing the application under Order 6 Rule 7 i.e., for „Amendment of
Pleadings‟ read with Section 151 of CPC.
PERSONAL ANALYSIS-
While the courts will not allow parties to amend their pleadings as a right, neither will they reject
applications for amendment arbitrarily. We are of the opinion that in view of the long delay which
has been noted in submitting the application for amendment, the nature and extent of the requested
amendments which in essence redefine the issues in dispute, the fact that the case is pending for
more than ten years, the real danger of irreparable damage, the negative impact on the respondents'
rights, including the danger to breach of the Constitution due to the additional delay that will be
caused and the necessity to call and recall witnesses, we hereby decide that the first instance Court
has correctly exercised its discretion and did not grant leave for amendment
The opponents' rights cannot be put in danger neither can the case sustain any further
inconvenience at such a late stage with obvious dangers of deviation because the plaintiff has
negligently, as it appears from its own allegation, failed to ask for the requested amendment
earlier although it has the opportunity to have done so."
The courts will exercise their discretion on a case-by-case basis, carefully considering the
guidelines outlined above in order to strike the appropriate balance between the parties in a way
that will best serve in the interest of justice.
CONCLUSION
The law of amendment of pleadings is settled by the Supreme Court. The Courts started with the
rule of law that there must not be any restriction on the powers of the courts be it law of limitation
or after the commencement of the proceeding, for securing the ends of justice and to minimize the
harm caused to the opposite party.
The Courts have been very active in this area developing the law time and again to suit to the
various time frames. However, the legislators themselves thought that discretion should be granted
to the courts whether to allow the amendment or not to decide the matter in issue. The courts
themselves since 1908 have started crystallizing the law through guidelines which must be
followed while allowing the amendments.
They have laid down the principles in which the leave to amendment should be granted and the
cases in which it should not be. However, the Supreme Court has been cautious and vigilant in
carefully designing the guidelines to be followed by the lower courts. Gradually, as a lot of
discretion is vested on the courts, there is a possibility of misuse. There was a Law Commission
Report stating that this provision of the amendment was used on a large scale and hence it needs
to be restricted.
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CPC-I ASSIGNMENT Amendment to pleadings and its approach to
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In 1999, efforts were made to eliminate this provision but could not be brought into force. Due to
a lot of protests from the legal practitioners, this was restored back in the 2002 CPC Amendment.
But now a small caveat was adduced to the proviso with a view to limit the unrestrained power of
the courts in allowing or refusing the amendments.
This was that the court shall allow the amendments to the pleadings only if it feels that the parties
could not have raised before in spite of their due diligence. By the literal reading of the provision,
it appears that that the power of the Courts is restricted. But, a simple glance at the judgments
pronounced since 2002 discussed in the above sections shows that the Courts continued to exercise
the unbridled power even after the amendment for securing the ends of justice. This is bold judicial
activism that has reached great heights and did not erode the faith entrusted by the citizens in the
judiciary.
In view of the above discussion and interpretation of the provision through various judgments, it
can be said that the law in relation to amendment of pleadings has been exercised by the courts
in order to secure the ends of justice and to deliver equitable justice. The same has been also
exercised by the courts keeping in mind that the same is not available to the litigant as a vested
right but is given at the discretion of the court which should be exercised with due care and
caution. The courts also have to been observing the principles, which have been laid down under
various judgments by the apex court.
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CPC-I ASSIGNMENT Amendment to pleadings and its approach to
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS REFERRED-
CPC BY C K TAKWANI
BARE ACT
WEBSITES-
Manupatra.com
Legalserviceindia.com
Indiankanoon.org
REFERENCES-
https://blog.ipleaders.in/law-amendment-pleadings-india/
https://www.lawctopus.com/academike/scope-and-extent-of-amendment-of-
pleadings/#_edn27
http://www.legalservicesindia.com/article/1427/Amendment-to-Pleadings-and-the-
approach-of-the-Judiciary.html
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