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.