DPC Unit 1
DPC Unit 1
PLAINT STRUCTURE
Provisions of Plaint in CPC
Order VII of the Code of Civil Procedure is all about the “plaint.” In this order,
you’ll find different rules that cover various aspects of what should be in a plaint.
Here’s a breakdown:
• Rules 1 to 8: These rules explain what specific details should be included in
the plaint.
• Rule 9: This rule tells us how the court should admit the plaint.
• Rules 10 to 10-B: These rules discuss what happens if the plaint in CPC
needs to be returned and how parties should appear.
• Main Rules 11 to 13: These rules lay out the situations in which the court
can reject the plaint.
Section 26 of the Code of Civil Procedure is important because it says that every
lawsuit has to start with the presentation of a plaint in CPC or in a way that the
law says. So, it’s clear that a plaint is essential when you want to begin a case in a
civil or commercial court.
STRUCTURE OF PLAINT
Rule 1 of Order VII deals with the particulars to be contained in a plaint. It states
that -
o The plaint shall contain the following particulars: —
(a) The name of the Court in which the suit is brought.
(b) The name, description and place of residence of the plaintiff.
(c) The name, description and place of residence of the defendant, so far as they
can be ascertained.
(d) Where the plaintiff or the defendant is a minor or a person of unsound mind, a
statement to that effect.
(e) The facts constituting the cause of action and when it arose.
(f) The facts showing that the Court has jurisdiction.
(g) The relief which the plaintiff claims.
(h) Where the plaintiff has allowed a set-off or relinquished a portion of his claim,
the amount so allowed, or relinquished.
(i) A statement of the value of the subject matter of the suit for the purposes of
jurisdiction and of court fees, so far as the case admits.
Example Layout:
1. That the plaintiff and the defendant are parties to a contract dated _, under
which the defendant was to deliver ___ to the plaintiff.
2. That the defendant failed to comply with the terms of the contract, thereby
causing loss to the plaintiff.
3. Cause of Action: The cause of action arose on __, when the defendant failed
to deliver the goods as per the terms.
4. Jurisdiction: This Hon'ble Court has jurisdiction to entertain the suit because
____.
6. Valuation: The value of the suit for the purpose of court fees and jurisdiction
is Rs. __, and court fees of Rs. __ is paid.
Verification:
Date: __
Place: __
[Plaintiff’s Signature]
Rejection of Plaint
A plaint in CPC can be rejected in certain situations when specific requirements
are not met. Here are some instances in which a plaint may be rejected:
• Non-Disclosure of Cause of Action: If the cause of action is not clearly
mentioned in the plaint, making it impossible to prove the harm suffered by
the plaintiff, the court may reject the plaint. It’s essential to present the
facts clearly to seek relief. For example, in the case of SNP Shipping Service
Pvt. Ltd. v. World Tanker Carrier Corporation, the plaint in CPC was rejected
and the suit dismissed under Order 7, Rule 1(a) of the CPC, 1908.
• Undervaluation of Relief: If the relief sought by the plaintiff is undervalued
and the court asks the plaintiff to correct the valuation within a given time
frame, but the plaintiff fails to do so, the plaint in CPC may be rejected.
• Improperly Stamped Documents: When all the documents are not properly
stamped and the court requires the plaintiff to provide the required stamp
paper within a specified time, failure to do so may lead to the rejection of
the plaint.
• Lack of Legal Basis: If the plaint is based on a statement or claim secured by
a law or statute that does not grant the plaintiff the right to file the suit, the
court may reject it.
• Failure to Submit Duplicate Copy: If the rules stipulate the submission of a
duplicate copy of the plaint and the plaintiff fails to do so, the court may
dismiss the plaint.
• Non-Compliance with Rule 9 of Order VII: If the plaintiff does not comply
with the provisions of Rule 9 of Order VII of the CPC, the court may reject
the plaint.
The return of plaint refers to a situation where the court sends back the plaint
(complaint) to the plaintiff. This usually happens when the court finds that it doesn’t
have the proper jurisdiction to hear the case.
Under Order 7, Rule 10 of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC), if the court realizes
that it’s not the right place for the case, it will return the plaint to the plaintiff, along
with reasons for the return. The plaintiff can then refile the plaint in the appropriate
court that has the jurisdiction to hear the case.
In essence, return of plaint is the court’s way of ensuring the case is handled by the
correct court.
WRITTEN STATEMENT
introduction
a written statement is a formal legal document filed by the defendant in response
to a plaintiff’s complaint or petition. This document serves to outline the
defendant’s defences, denials and counterclaims, if any. The written statement
should be concise and focus on the key issues in the case. It is a crucial part of the
legal process and helps shape the direction of the lawsuit.
The defendant is required to admit or deny each allegation made by the plaintiff
and present any affirmative defences they may have. Additionally, if the defendant
has any claims against the plaintiff, these may be included as counterclaims in the
written statement. It’s essential to adhere to the legal requirements and deadlines
when filing a written statement in accordance with the CPC.
Written Statement Format
• Title: The title should clearly state that it is a “Written Statement” filed
under the CPC. It should also include the case number and the names of the
parties involved.
• Introduction: Begin with an introductory paragraph that identifies the
defendant, their address and their role in the case.
• Background: Provide a brief background of the case, including the plaintiff’s
claims and the circumstances that led to the lawsuit. Mention the court
where the case is filed.
• Response to Allegations: Respond to each allegation made by the plaintiff
in their complaint. Clearly indicate whether the defendant admits, denies,
or lacks knowledge of each specific allegation. Use a numbered list for
clarity.
• Affirmative Defenses: Include any affirmative defences that the defendant
wishes to raise. These are legal arguments that, if proven, could excuse the
defendant from liability.
• Counterclaims: If the defendant has any claims against the plaintiff arising
from the same set of circumstances, these should be presented as
counterclaims in the written statement.
• Witnesses and Evidence: Mention any witnesses or evidence the defendant
intends to rely on during the trial to support their defence.
• Legal Citations: If there are relevant legal statutes, case law, or precedents
that support the defendant’s position, reference these in the written
statement.
• Relief Sought: Clearly state what the defendant seeks from the court. This
may include a request for the case to be dismissed, a specific judgment, or
any other appropriate relief.
• Verification: The written statement should typically be verified by the
defendant or their legal representative, confirming that the contents are
true and correct to the best of their knowledge and belief.
• Date and Signature: Sign and date the written statement and include the
name and designation of the person signing it.
• Annexures: Attach any relevant documents, exhibits, or evidence that
support the defendant’s case. Refer to these in the written statement.
IN THE COURT OF [Court Name, e.g., Senior Civil Judge, District Court]
AT [Location]
[Plaintiff’s Name]
[Address of Plaintiff]
… Plaintiff
Versus
[Defendant’s Name]
[Address of Defendant]
… Defendant
1.1. The Defendant denies each and every allegation contained in the Plaintiff’s
complaint except as expressly admitted herein.
1.2. The Defendant submits that the Plaintiff’s suit is not maintainable under
law and is liable to be dismissed with costs.
2. Statement on Merits:
3. Additional Defenses:
3.1. Limitation: The Defendant submits that the suit is barred by the law of
limitation as prescribed under [Relevant Act/Section].
3.2. Lack of Cause of Action: The Defendant avers that the Plaintiff has no valid
cause of action against the Defendant, and thus, the suit is liable to be
dismissed.
Wherefore, the Defendant respectfully prays that this Hon’ble Court be pleased
to:
[Defendant’s Signature]
[Date]
[Place]
Verification:
I, [Defendant’s Full Name], son/daughter of [Father’s Name], aged [Age] years,
residing at [Defendant’s Address], do hereby verify that the contents of
paragraphs [mention specific paragraph numbers that are true to personal
knowledge, e.g., 1 to 5] are true to my personal knowledge and that the
contents of paragraphs [mention paragraph numbers based on legal advice or
information received, e.g., 6 to 10] are believed to be true based on legal advice
received and believed by me to be true.
[Defendant’s Signature]
Advocate for the Defendant
[Advocate’s Name and Signature]
APPEALS
What is an Appeal in CPC?
An appeal in the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) is a way for a person to ask a higher
court to review and correct a mistake made by a lower court. The higher court
examines the case again and can change, uphold, or reverse the lower court’s
decision.
Right to Appeal
The right to appeal isn’t automatic—it’s allowed only if the law specifically grants
it. Here’s how it works:
• Granted by law: The right to appeal is only available if the law allows
it.
• Applied based on existing law: It’s based on the law as it was when
the original case was filed, not on any changes made after.
This right can be waived (given up) if the parties agree not to appeal. Also, if a
party accepts benefits from the court’s decision, they usually lose the right to
challenge it.
The CPC allows only one appeal for each case. Under Section 96, an affected
person can appeal a court’s decision to a higher court. Some sections (97, 98, and
102) lay out situations where additional appeals aren’t allowed.
Usually, only those directly involved in the case can appeal, unless someone else
gets special permission from the court. A person who wasn’t in the original case
can appeal if they’re negatively affected by the decision, but this is decided case-
by-case.
Note: Section 96(3) states that if the parties agreed to a decision (a consent
decree), they cannot appeal it. This is because they’ve already accepted the terms
by agreement.
2. Condonation of Delay
• Rule 3A: If an appeal is filed late, the appellant must explain the
delay. The Court decides if the delay can be excused, which is discretionary, not
mandatory.
3. Stay of Proceedings
• Rules 5-8: The appellate Court can stay the execution of a decree
while the appeal is ongoing, provided:
• The application is timely.
• The appellant shows potential harm if the stay isn’t granted.
• Adequate security is provided.
• An ex parte stay order may be issued without the respondent’s
presence if conditions are met.
4. Summary Dismissal
• Rule 11: The Court can summarily dismiss an appeal if it lacks merit,
sparing full hearings for frivolous appeals. This is done sparingly to avoid denying
legitimate appeals.
5. Doctrine of Merger
• The trial court’s decree merges with the appellate court’s decree
upon appeal, ensuring only one decree is operative.
6. Cross-Objections
8. Types of Appeals
• Those unable to pay the court fee can file as indigent persons; the
Court may grant or deny this status.
Versus
[Respondent’s Name]
[Address of Respondent]
… Respondent
Appeal Petition
1. Introduction
1.1. The appellant respectfully submits this appeal against the judgment/order
dated [date of lower court’s judgment] in [Case No. of Lower Court] passed by
[Name of Lower Court].
2. Statement of Facts
• [Briefly outline the background of the case, the issues at hand, and
the proceedings in the lower court].
• [Summarize the decision made by the lower court].
3. Grounds of Appeal
The appellant contends that the lower court made several errors, which include
but are not limited to:
3.1. Error in Law: The lower court misinterpreted the relevant legal provisions,
specifically [cite specific laws or case law].
3.2. Error in Facts: The lower court’s findings of fact were not supported by the
evidence presented.
3.3. Procedural Errors: There were significant procedural irregularities that
affected the outcome, including [detail any improper procedures that occurred].
Wherefore, the appellant prays that this Hon’ble Court may be pleased to:
5. Verification
Additional Considerations
• The High Court can review a lower court’s order through revision, but
only if there’s no appeal available.
• Revision focuses on jurisdictional errors (i.e., if the lower court acted
outside its authority).
• It does not allow a full re-evaluation of facts or evidence, unlike an
appeal.