CHAPTERII

INSTITUTIONOFSUITS
Presentation,ExaminationandRegistrationetc.ofPlaints
7.
Aplaint,alongwithacopythereofforthepurposeofdrawingupofadecreeat
therelevantstage,maybepresentedatanytimeduringtheCourthourstotheClerkof
theCourtortosuchofficerastheCourtappointsinthisbehalfunderOrderIV,rule1,
Civil Procedure Code, or in the absence of such officer, to the Judge himself.
Immediatelyafteritispresented,thedateofpresentationshallbeendorsedthereon[and
anacknowledgmentthereofshallbegiventothepartyorAdvocatepresentingit].
Note1IfaplaintispresentedbeyondCourthours,itwillbeinthediscretionofthe
Judgetoacceptitornot.
Note 2 The officer receiving the plaint is forbidden to refuse to receive plaints,
applications,etc.,presentedtohim,onthegroundthatheisnotable,atthattime,to
checkthem.
8.
Thenextstepistheexaminationoftheplaintinordertodeterminewhetherit
shouldbe
(a)admitted;or
(b)rejected(OrderVII,rule11);or
(c)returnedforpresentationtotheproperCourt.
(OrderVii,rule10);orafterstrictlyfollowingtheprocedureenvisagedinnew
Rule10A,OrderVIIofCivilProcedureCode,asamendedbyAct,104of1976.
(d)returnedforamendmentonthegroundthatitisnotframedasrequiredbylaw.
Thisexaminationshouldbeparticularlydirectedtoascertaining
(i)WhethertheformsprovidedinAppendix'A'oftheCodearefollowedasfar
asisreasonablypossible(OrderVI,rule3);
(ii)Whethernamesandaddressesofpartiesareproperlydescribedintitle;
(iii)Whethertheplaintisproperlysigned(OrderVI,rule14);
(iv)Whetheritisdulyverified(OrderVI,rule15);
(v)WhetheritcomplieswiththerequirementsofOrderVII,rules2,4and6;

(vi)Whetheritisproperlyvaluedandstamped;
(vii)WhetheracertifiedcopyofextractofRecordofRightsisproducedornot
whenthesuitisinrespectofagriculturalland;orwhetherthepropertyextractofCity
Surveyisproducedornotwhenthesuitisinrespectofimmovablepropertyotherthan
agriculturallands;
(viii)WhethertheprovisionsofOrderII,rules4and5areinfringed;
(ix)Whetherthenecessarycourtfeestampsorthenecessarypostalchargesfor
theserviceofthesummonsonthedefendanthavebeenaffixedtoit;
(x)Whetherthedocumentordocumentsonwhichtheplaintiffsuesorthe
documentsinhispossessionorpowersareproducedalongwiththeplaint;andwitha
properlistthereof;
(xi)WhetherthecertificaterequiredbythePensionAct,XXIIIof1871,is
producedinsuitstowhichthatActappearstoapply;
(xii)Whetherthegroundsdisclosinghowthesuitclaimiswithinlimitationare
pleadedproperly;
(xiii)WhetheritisindicatedhowtheCourthasjurisdiction;
(xiv)Whethertheprovisionsofrules2and4,OrderIIIastotheproductionof
apowerofattorneyandVakalatanamawiththeplaintarecompliedwithornot;
(xv)Whethertheplaintiffhasfiledwiththeplaintamemoinwritinggivingan
addressatwhichserviceofnoticeorsummonsorotherprocessmaybemadeonhim,
(OrderVI,Rule14A);
(xvi)WhetheracertificateoftheCharityCommissionerisfiledornotinasuit
filedundertheBombayPublicTrustsAct,asrequiredbysection51(1)ofthatAct;
(xvii)WhethertheCharityCommissionerisimpleadedasapartytothesuit
filedundertheBombayPublicTrustsAct;
(xviii) WhethertheplaintbyoragainsttheCentralGovernmenthasbeen
signedandverifiedbythepersonwhoisacquaintedwiththefactsofthecaseandwho
hasbeenappointedastheOfficerspecifiedintheschedule(reproducedattheendof
Chapter II) annexed to the Government Notification No. SRO. 351, dated the 25th
January1958,underRule1,OrderXXVIIoftheFirstScheduleoftheCodeofCivil
Procedure,1908,asamendedupto20thSeptember1969.
(xix)WhethertheprovisionsofRule(2)ofOrderXXXVIICivilProcedure
Codearefulfilled,ifthePlaintiffdesirestoproceedunderthesaidorder.
9.
Whileexaminingtheplaint,itisalsonecessaryto(a)verifythelistofdocuments
producedalongwiththeplaint;(b)ascertainthecorrectnessoftheconcisestatements,if
any,OrderVII,rule9);(c)whetheracopyoftheplainthasbeenfiledforthepurposeof
drawingupofadecreeattherelevantstage;(d)checkwhetherasmanycopiesofthe

plaintorconcisestatementsonplainpaperastherearedefendantshavebeenfurnished
(OrderVII,rule9);(e)comparewiththeoriginalanycopyofaccountbookproduced
underOrderVII,rule17andmarktherelevantentriestherein;(f)getatruecopyofthe
entry together with its translation either in English or in the languageof the Court,
supportedbyanaffidavitofthepersonwhotranslateditwheresuchentryisinalanguage
otherthanEnglishorthelanguageoftheCourt;and(g)checkwhethertheplaintiffhas
paidtherequisitefeefortheserviceofsummonsonthedefendants,(OrderVII,rule9).
TheofficershouldalsoseethatforeveryIndiandatementionedintheplaint,the
correspondingdateaccordingtotheGregorianCalendarhasbeengiven.
10. Iftheofficerexaminingtheplaintfindsthatitcomplieswithalltherequirements
andiscorrectinallrespects,heshouldmaketheendorsementontheplaint"Examined,
andorderedtoberegistered[aftergivingstampnumberthereto]withthedateandhis
signature. If he thinks that the plaint should be returned for amendment or for
presentationtotheproperCourt,orberejectedunderOrderVII,rule11,heshouldrefer
themattertotheJudgefororder. Heshallexaminetheplaintasearlyaspossibleand
aftercompletingtheexamination,obtainfirstordersoftheCourtontheplaint,within
sevendaysfromthedateofitspresentation. SpecificordersoftheJudgeshouldbe
obtainedinrespectofPlaints,theexaminationofwhichcannotbecompleted,forany
reason,withintheabovetime.
AsregardstheLinkedCourts aclerkshouldbesenttotheStationwherethe
Judgesitsondeputationforobtainingthefirstordersontheplaintswithinthestipulated
timementionedabove.Forthispurpose,theClerkofthecourtortheNazirshouldnotbe
sentbutonlytheconcernedclerkshouldbesent.
11. Where,uponexamination,theplaintisfoundtobecorrectandinorder,itshould
beenteredinoneofthefourRegistersofSuitsaccordingtothecategorytowhichit
belongs.Fourtypesofregistersshouldbemaintained,viz.,(i)RegularSuits;(ii)Small
CauseSuits;(iii)SpecialSuits;and(iv)SummarySuits.
Note WheretheSuitisinitiallynumberedinonecategorybutchangesitscategory
subsequentlyonaccountofthepowersconferreduponaparticularJudge,whoistotry
thesuit,thecategorybechangedaccordingly.
12.
Afterexaminationandregistration,theplaintshouldbeplacedbeforetheJudge
forordersastotheissueofsummonsorotherwise.Itwillthenbeforthejudgetodeal
withthematter.
Whentheplaint isfound to bedefectivein anymaterialparticular,ornot to

complysubstantiallywiththerequirementsofOrderVI,itwouldbecompetenttothe
Judgetodirectthatthenecessaryamendmentshouldbemade.
13.
It is desirable that the particulars of only such suits, wherein the plaints are
admitted,shouldbeenteredintheregisterofSuitsandnumberedaccordingtotheorder
inwhichtheplaintsareadmitted(OrderIV,rule2).However,aplaintmayberegistered
evenbeforeitisreturnedforamendment.Whenitispresentedafteramendment,thedate
ofitsrepresentationshouldbenotedontheplaintandintheRegister.
14.
Wherethedismissalorabatementofasuit,oranexpartedecreeissetaside,the
plaint shouldnotbereregisteredbut proceedingsshouldcontinueundertheoriginal
numberoftheplaintintheRegisterofSuits,aftertakinganoteoftheorderoftheCourt
inthatRegister,andthenumberofthemiscellaneousapplicationortheproceedingin
whichtheorderwaspassedasalsoofthedateofthatorder.
15.
Attention is invited to Rules 10 and 10A, Order VII of the Code of Civil
Procedure,1908,asamendedbyActNo.104of1976,accordingtowhichtheCourtshall
returntheplainttotheplaintiffforpresentationtotheproperCourtafterfollowingthe
detailedprocedurelaiddownparticularlyinnewRule10A.TheCourtsshouldstrictly
followthesaidprocedureincaseswheretheycometotheconclusionthattheplaint
shouldbereturnedforbeingpresentedtotheCourtinwhichthesuitshouldhavebeen
instituted.
AcopyoftheJudge'sreasonsforreturningitshouldberetainedandfiled. A
separatefileofsuchcopiesshouldbemaintained.
16.
Rejected plaints should be kept together with the orders of rejection and the
reasons for the same, and any evidence which may have been taken. A register of
rejectedplaintsintheformNo.6prescribedfortheregisterofrejectedplaintatpage88
ofVol.II ofthisManualshould bekeptineachCourt. Theentriesinitshouldbe
numberedineachyearaccordingtotheorderinwhichtheplaintsarerejected.
17.
Theplaintiffshallstateintheplaintorinamemorandumannexedtheretothe
valueofthesubjectmatterofthesuit,asrequiredbyrule1(i)ofOrderVIIandalsohow
andunderwhatprovisionthevaluationhasbeenarrivedat.Whereitisnotclearhowthe
valuationisarrivedat,theofficerexaminingtheplaintshouldplacethematterbeforethe
Judgefororders.
18.

WherethesubjectmatterofthesuitisimmovablepropertyinaCityinwhicha

CitySurveyhasbeencompletedorinavillagewhereaGrampanchayatisestablished,
andthenumberingofthehousesandopenspacesinthejurisdictionofthesaidPanchayat
hasbeenmade,itshouldalsobeseenthattheCitySurveyNumbersorGrampanchayat
numbershavebeenproperlyspecifiedintheplaint(OrderVII,rule3).
19.
Intheplaint,thenamesofthepartiesshouldbeshowninconsecutivenumbers,
writtenonebelowtheother.Thesenumbersshouldnotbechanged;therepresentatives
ofaparty,whoarebroughtonrecordaftertheinstitutionofthesuit,shouldbeshownby
subnumbers. WhereapartywhosenameisenteredintheRegisterofSuitsdies,the
necessarycorrectionshouldbemadeinthatRegister.
20.
InmanyCourts,theprovisionsofrules14(2)and18ofOrderVIIarenotstrictly
followed. TheattentionofbothJudgesandlawyersis,therefore,speciallydirectedto
thoseprovisionswithaviewtotheirstrictcompliance.
21.
Thelists,copiesandstatementsreferredtoinOrderVIIrules9and14mustbe
signed,iffoundtobecorrect,bytheClerkoftheCourt.Itisalsodesirablethatanycopy
producedasrequiredbyrule14ofOrderVII,butnotcoveredbyrule17ofthatOrder,
shouldbecompared,andiffoundtobecorrect,signedbytheClerkoftheCourt.Ifthe
list or copy is not correct, it should not be signed but returned for correction. All
correctionserasuresandinterlineationsshouldbeinitialledwhilesigningthelistorcopy,
asthecasemaybe.
22.
Everypleading,application,affidavitandotherlegal documentpresentedto a
Civil Court shall be signed by the lawyer or person presenting it or shall bear an
endorsementattheendgivingthenameofthelawyerorotherpersonwhohasdraftedit.
23.
Whenadocumentproducedwiththeplaintappearstobedefaced,tornorinany
waydamaged,orwhereitsconditionorappearancerequiresspecialnotice,anoteofsuch
conditionorappearanceshouldbemadeonthelistofdocumentsandshouldbeverified
andinitialled,ifitisfoundcorrect,bytheofficerexaminingtheplaint.Insuchcases,a
copyofsuchdefacedordamageddocumentorofdocumentwhichisillegibleshouldbe
gotproducedfromtheplaintiffforuseinCourtsothatthedamageddocumentmaynot
furtherdeteriorate,ordifficultiesmaynotbeexperiencedinreadingit.
24.
Interlineations,erasuresorcorrectionsinaplaintshouldbeinitialledbytheparty
orlawyerpresentingortenderingtheplaintandbytheofficeroftheCourttowhomitis
presented.

25.
TheformforregisterofsuitsisgiveninScheduleI,AppendixHatserialNo.14,
CivilProcedureCode.Incolumn9oftheRegisterofSuitsrelatingtoparticulars,itwill
besufficienttonoteonlythenatureofthesuit,andtherelieforreliefsprayedforinthe
plaint.
26.
Certainformswhichmaybeusedbypartiesasanauthorityforappearance,a
generalpowerofattorney,anappointmentofalawyer,anauthoritytoreceivenotices
etc.,aregivenasformsNos,1,2,3,4,and5pertainingtothisChapterinVolumeII.To
understandtheirvalueanduse,theprovisionsofOrderIIIshouldberead.
27.
Theprovisionsofsection148AoftheCodeofCivilProcedureandtheRules
framedbytheHighCourtthereunder,i.e.OrderXLI,shouldbeborneinmindwhile
consideringapplicationsforinterimrelief.Everycaveatundersection148AoftheCode
ofCivilProcedureshouldbeintheprescribedformandsignedbytheCaveatororhis
Advocate.ItistobepresentedbytheCaveatororhisAdvocatetotheCourtortothe
officerauthorisedtoreceivethecaveats.Thecaveatisrequiredtoberegisteredinthe
CaveatRegister.Everyapplicationforinterimrelieforanyreliefistobesupportedby
statementonoathofanapplicantstatingthatnonoticeundersection148Aisreceived
or,ifreceived,theapplicanthasfurnishedthecopiesoftheapplicationtogetherwiththe
copiesofthepapersordocumentswhichhehasfurnishedtotheCaveator.TheCourt,for
specialreasonstoberecordedinwriting,cangrantinterimreliefwithoutservingthe
Caveator,if,intheopinionoftheCourt,theobjectofgrantinginterimreliefonthe
applicationwouldbedefeatedbydelay.
RoznamaofProceedings
28.
ThereshouldbediaryorindexofproceedingscalledtheRoznama,aexampleof
whichisappendedasFormNo.7.Thefollowinggeneralinstructionsareissuedforthe
maintenanceoftheRoznama:
(i) The Roznama should clearly show the course of a suit or case from the
beginning to the end in chronological order. It should show in a concise from the
progressofthesuitorproceedingfromdaytoday.Thereasonsforeveryadjournment
shallalsobestated.TheRoznamashouldbeafaithful,completeandconcisehistoryof
thecaseandofallproceedingstakeninit.Itshouldcontainacorrectlistanddescription
oftheexhibits,thedateofthedeliveryofthejudgment,ofthesigningofthedecreeand
of any applicationforreviewof judgment,foramendmentofthedecreeorforfinal

decree.Itshouldshowinchronologicalorderallproceedingssubsequenttothepassing
ofapreliminarydecree,ifany,andalsocontainanoteofotherproceedings,suchas
Commissioner'sReport,ifany.
(ii) An entry should be made in the Roznama,stating whether all witnesses
summoned or present have been examined and if any such witness has not been
examined,thereasonfornotdoingso.
(iii)TheRoznamamustbekeptfromdaytodayasanoriginaldocumentbythe
BenchClerkortheclerkondutyandmustalwaysremaininfile'B'.Entriesotherthan
thosemadeatthetimeofinstitutionofthesuitorproceedingshallnormallybesignedby
theJudge.
(iv)Everydocumentadmittedinevidenceandrecordedshouldbementionedin
theRozmanainchronologicalorder.Thedescriptionofthedocumentandthedateofthe
document according to the Gregorian Calendar should also be mentioned in the
Roznama.
(v)AttheendoftheRoznamaofeachcase,theBenchClerkconcernedshould
makeanotethatalltheCourtfeestampshavebeenpunchedandshouldsignthenote.
(vi)ThenameofthepresidingJudgeshouldbewrittenintheRoznamawhena
caseisfiled,andwhenitistakenupbyanotherJudgehisnameshouldalsobeentered.
(vii)Thenoticeprescribedbyrule1ofOrderXXwhereJudgmentisreservedor
postponedshouldbesetoutintheRoznama.
(viii) Thecategoryofthefile(A,B,C,D),inwhicheachpaperordocument
mentionedintheRoznamaiskept,shouldbenotedinredinkorpencilinthemarginof
theRoznamaagainsteachpaperordocument.
Similarly,anoteasregardsthereturnorlossordestructionofadocumentshould
bemadeinredinkintheRoznama.
(ix)BeforetransmittingtherecordtotheDistrictCourtrecordroom,theBench
Clerkconcernedshallverifyandmakinganendorsementmentioningthatthedocuments
areproperlyclassifiedandkeptintheappropriatefilesA,B,C,D.
(x)Ineveryappealablecase,theRoznamamaybewritteninEnglish.

29.
(1) TheJudgeshouldalsokeepmemorandabooksinFormsNos.8,9and10
prescribed at page 93 of this Manual, Volume II, in accordance with the following
instructions:
(i)FormNo.8ThisformistobekeptbyallDistrictJudges(includingJointand
AssistantJudges).ItshouldalsobeusedbytheCivilJudges(SeniorDivision),invested
withAppellatePowers,whentheyhearappealsorrevisions.
(ii)FormNo.9ThisformistobekeptbyallJudgesdoingOriginalCivilwork,
includingSmallCauseCourtJudges. Thisformshouldalsobeusedforinterlocutory
proceedings which take place during the progress of the suit, for example, the
appointmentofaguardian.
(iii) FormNo.10CivilJudgesandSmallCauseCourtJudgesshouldkeepa
separatememorandumbookinFormNo.10fordarkhastsandmiscellaneousapplications
forwhichitisnecessarytofixadate.
(2)(i)Everycaseenteredinanymemorandumbookshould,ifthecasehason
thedayinquestionadvancedastage,bethenandtheremarkedwiththemark. Ifthe
caseistakenupsimplytobeadjourned,themarkXshouldbemadeagainstit.Ifthecase
istakenupdecided,alineshouldbedrawnthroughtheentry.
(ii)Everysuitandproceedingshouldbeenteredbyitsnumberandyear.
(iii)Theobjectofthesememorandabooksistwofold
(a)toshowthepresidingJudgewhatworkisfixedforanyparticularday;
and
(b)toshowaninspectingauthoritywhatworkwasdoneonanyparticular
day.
(iv)FromNo.8shouldbekeptinEnglish.FormsNos.9and10shouldbe
keptintheregionallanguage,unlessthepresidingJudgeprefersthattheyshouldbekept
inEnglish.
(v)thePresidingOfficershouldhimselffixtheadjourneddateineverycase
andshouldmakeanotethereofinhisownhandonthedailyBoardaswellasinthe
MemorandumBook(FormNo.9),beforeproceedingtotakeupthenextcase.