PROCEDURE FOR FILING AN CIVILCASE:
There is a detailed procedure laid down, for filing a civil case. If the procedure is not followed, then the registry has a right to dismiss the suit
The Procedure is as follows:
1.Filing Of Suit / Plaint
2.Vakalatnama
3.Court Fees
4.How Proceedings Are Conducted
5.Written Statement
6.Replication By Plaintiff
7.Filing Of Other Documents
8.Framing Of Issues/ List Of Witness
9.Final Hearing
10.Appeal, Reference And Review
11.Limitation
FILING OF SUIT / PLAINT:
· In layman's language plaint is the written complaint / allegation.
· One who files it is known as "Plaintiff" and against whom it is filed is known as "Defendant"
· The plaint has to be filed within the time limit prescribed in the Limitation Act, and should be typed copy, in double line space.
· Name of the Court, Nature of Complaint, Names and Address of parties to be suit has to be clearly mentioned.
· Plaint should also contain verification from plaintiff, stating that, contents of the plaint are true and correct.
VAKALATNAMA A person / party filing a case, May also represent their own case personally in any court. However, due to lack of knowledge of Law and Technical Procedures, Lawyers are engaged to report the interest of parties. " Vakalatnama", is a document, by which the party filing the case authorises the Advocate to represent on their behalf? On General Terms, a Vakalatnama may contain the falling terms : The client will not hold the Advocate responsible for any decision. The client shall bear all the costs and /expenses incurred during the proceedings. The advocate shall have right to retain the documents, unless complete fees are paid. The client is free to disengage the Advocate at any stage of the Proceedings. The Advocate shall have all the right to take decisions on his own in the court of Law, during the hearing, to the best interest of client. Vakalatnama is affixed on the last page of plaint / suit and is kept alongwith court records. No fees are required to be paid on it. However, nowadays, Plaint should also have the requisite court fees attached to it. Court fees are some nominal percentage of the value of the claim or value of the suit. The requisite amount of Court and stamp fees is different for every suit, and is mentioned in the "Court Fees Stamp AcT.
COURT FEES
Different amount of court fees is paid for different type of documents.
Some of them are as follows ;
· In case of plaint / written statement == 10 RS. == if the value of the suit exceed Rs.5,000/- upto 10,000/-
Plaint , in a suit for possession == Fee of one half of the amount above.
· On a copy of a Decree or order == ( 50 paise ) == if the amount or value of
Having the force of a decree the subject matter of the suit wherein such decree or order is made is fifty or less than fifty rupees.
Value of Suit
· Value of suit exceeds Rs. 1,50,000-1,55,000 == Rs. 1700/-
· Value of suit exceeds Rs. 3,00,000-3,05,000 == Rs. 2450/-
· Value of suit exceeds Rs. 4,00,000-4,05,000 == Rs. 2950/-
Finally, a date shall be given to the plaintiff, for first hearing. On such hearing, the court will decide whether the proceedings should continue or not. If it decides, that the case no merits, then it will dismiss it there itself, without calling opposite party. If it decides otherwise, then proceedings shall being
HOW PROCEEDINGS ARE CONDUCTED
· On the first day of hearing, if the court thinks there are merits in the case, it will issue notice to the opposite party, to submit their arguments, and fix a date.
· On issuance of notice to the opposite party, the plaintiff is required to do the following :
o File requisite amount of procedure--- fee in the court.
o File 2 copies of plaint for each defendant in the court, i.e. if there are 3 defendants, 6 copies has to be filed.
o Of, the 2 copies for each defendant, one shall be sent by Register / post / courier, and one by Ordinary post.
o Such filing should be done within 7 days, from date of order / notice.
WRITTEN STATEMENT
· When the notice has been issued to the defendant, he is required to appear on the date mentioned in the notice.
· Before such date, the defendant is required to file his "written statement", i.e. his defense against the allegation raised by plaintiff, within 30 days from date of service of notice, or within such time as given by court
· The written statement should specifically deny the allegations, which defendant thinks are false. Any allegation not specifically denied is deemed to be admitted.
· The written statement should also contain verification from the Defendant, stating that, the contents of written statement are true and correct.
· The time period of 30 days, for filing a Written Statement, can be extended to 90 days after seeking permission of the court.
REPLICATION BY PLAINTIFF
· "Replication" is a reply, filed by the plaintiff, against the "written statement" of Defendant.
· "Replication" should also specifically deny the allegations raised by the Defendant in written statement. Anything not denied is deemed to be accepted.
· Replication should also contain, a " verification" from the plaintiff, stating that contents of "Replication" are true and correct.
· Once Replication is filed, pleadings are stated to be complete.
FILING OF OTHER DOCUMENTS
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Once, the pleadings are complete, then both the parties are given opportunity to produce and file documents, on which they rely, and to substantiate their claims.
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Any document not filed or produced cannot be relied upon, during final arguments.
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Filing of Documents is not sufficient. They should be admitted and taken on record. In brief the procedure is as follows :
Documents filed by one party may be admitted by opposite party.
If they are denied by opposite party, then they can be admitted by the witness produced by party whose documents are denied.
Once the document has been admitted it shall form a part of the record of court, and all the details of suit such as name of parties, title of suit etc, shall be inscribed on the document. (O13 R49 7)
Documents, which are rejected i.e. not admitted, are returned to the respective parties.
It is necessary that document should be filed in "original", and a spare copy should be given to the opposite party.
FRAMING OF ISSUES/ LIST OF WITNESS
LIST OF WITNESS
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FINAL HEARING
· On the day fixed for final hearing, the arguments shall take place.
· The arguments should strictly be confined to the issues framed.
· Before the final Arguments, the parties with the permission of Court, can amend their pleadings.
· Whatever is not contained in the pleadings, the court may refuse to listen.
· Finally, the court shall pass a "final Order", either on the day of hearing itself, or some other day fixed by the court.
CERTIFIED COPY OF ORDER
· Certified copy of order, mean, the final order of court, and having the seal and stamp of court.
· Certified copy of useful, in case of execution of the order, or in case of Appeal.
· Certified copy can be applied by making an application to the Registry of concerned Court, alongwith nominal fees for the order.
· In case of "urgent requirement some additional amount has to be deposited.
· "Urgent order" can be obtained within a week, and the normal might take 15 days.
APPEAL, REFERENCE AND REVIEW When an order is passed against a party to the suit, it is not that it has no further remedy. Such party can further initiate the proceedings, by way of: - Appeal, In brief, the technicalities and difference between these are as follows:
PROCEDURE FOR APPEAL FROM ORIGINAL DECREES ( ORDER 41)
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