PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, commencement and extent.
(1) This Act may be cited as the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
(2) It shall come into force on the first day of January, 1909.
(3) It extends to the whole of India except—
(3)(a) the State of Jammu and Kashmir;
(3)(b) the State of Nagaland and the tribal areas:
Provided that the State Government concerned may, by notification in the Official Gazette, extend the
provisions of this Code or any of them to the whole or part of the State of Nagaland or such tribal areas, as
the case may be, with such supplemental, incidental or consequential modifications as may be specified in the
notification.
Explanation.—In this clause, “tribal areas” means the territories which, immediately before the 21st day of
January, 1972, were included in the tribal areas of Assam as referred to in paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule
to the Constitution.
(4) In relation to the Amindivi Islands, and the East Godavari, West Godavari and Visakhapatnam Agencies in
the State of Andhra Pradesh and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, the application of this Code shall be
without prejudice to the application of any rule or regulation for the time being in force in such Islands,
Agencies or such Union Territory, as the case may be, relating to the application of this Code.
2. Definitions.
In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,—
(1) “Code” includes rules;
(2) “decree” means the formal expression of an adjudication which, so far as regards the Court expressing it,
conclusively determines the rights of the parties with regard to all or any of the matters in controversy in
the suit and may be either preliminary or final. It shall be deemed to include the rejection of a plaint and
the determination of any question within section 144, but shall not include—
(2)(a) any adjudication from which an appeal lies as an appeal from an order, or
(2)(b) any order of dismissal for default.
Explanation.—A decree is preliminary when further proceedings have to be taken before the suit can be
completely disposed of. It is final when such adjudication completely disposes of the suit. It may be partly
preliminary and partly final;
(3) “decree-holder” means any person in whose favour a decree has been passed or an order capable of execution
has been made;
(4) “district” means the local limits of the jurisdiction of a principal Civil Court of original jurisdiction
(hereinafter called a “District Court”), and includes the local limits of the ordinary original civil
jurisdiction of a High Court;
(5) “foreign Court” means a Court situate outside India and not established or continued by the authority of
the Central Government;
(6) “foreign judgment” means the judgment of a foreign Court;
(7) “Government Pleader” includes any officer appointed by the State Government to perform all or any of the
functions expressly imposed by this Code on the Government Pleader and also any pleader acting under the
directions of the Government Pleader;
(7A) “High Court” in relation to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, means the High Court in Calcutta;
(7B) “India”, except in sections 1, 29, 43, 44, 44A, 78, 79, 82, 83 and 87A, means the territory of India
excluding the State of Jammu and Kashmir;
(8) “Judge” means the presiding officer of a Civil Court;
(9) “judgment” means the statement given by the Judge of the grounds of a decree or order;
(10) “judgment-debtor” means any person against whom a decree has been passed or an order capable of execution
has been made;
(11) “legal representative” means a person who in law represents the estate of a deceased person, and includes
any person who intermeddles with the estate of the deceased and where a party sues or is sued in a
representative character the person on whom the estate devolves on the death of the party so suing or
sued;
(12) “mesne profits” of property means those profits which the person in wrongful possession of such property
actually received or might with ordinary diligence have received therefrom, together with interest on such
profits, but shall not include profits due to improvements made by the person in wrongful possession;
(13) “movable property” includes growing crops;
(14) “order” means the formal expression of any decision of a Civil Court which is not a decree;
(15) “pleader” means any person entitled to appear and plead for another in Court, and includes an advocate, a
vakil and an attorney of a High Court;
(16) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules;
(17) “public officer” means a person falling under any of the following descriptions, namely:—
(17)(a) every Judge;
(17)(b) every member of an All-India Service;
(17)(c) every commissioned or gazetted officer in the military, naval or air forces of the Union while serving
under the Government;
(17)(d) every officer of a court of Justice whose duty it is, as such officer, to investigate or report on any
matter of law or fact, or to make, authenticate or keep any document, or to take charge or dispose of any
property, or to execute any judicial process, or to administer any oath, or to interpret, or to preserve
order, in the Court, and every person especially authorised by a court of Justice to perform any of such
duties;
(17)(e) every person who holds any office by virtue of which he is empowered to place or keep any person in
confinement;
(17)(f) every officer of the Government whose duty it is, as such officer, to prevent offences, to give
information of offences, to bring offenders to justice, or to protect the public health, safety or
convenience;
(17)(g) every officer whose duty it is, as such officer, to take, receive, keep or expend any property on
behalf of the Government, or to make any survey, assessment or contract on behalf of the Government, or to
execute any revenue process, or to investigate, or to report on, any matter affecting the pecuniary interests
of the Government, or to make, authenticate or keep any document relating to the pecuniary interests of the
Government, or to prevent the infraction of any law for the protection of the pecuniary interests of the
Government; and
(17)(h) every officer in the service or pay of the Government, or remunerated by fees or commission for the
performance of any public duty;
(18) “rules” means rules and forms contained in the First Schedule or made under section 122 or section
125;
(19) “share in a corporation” shall be deemed to include stock, debenture stock, debentures or bonds;
and
(20) “signed”, save in the case of a judgment or decree, includes stamped.
3. Subordination of Courts.
For the purposes of this Code, the District Court is subordinate to the High Court, and every Civil Court
of a grade inferior to that of a District Court and every Court of Small Causes is subordinate to the High
Court and District Court.
4. Savings.
(1) In the absence of any specific provision to the contrary, nothing in this Code shall be deemed to limit
or otherwise affect any special or local law now in force or any special jurisdiction or power conferred, or
any special form of procedure prescribed, by or under any other law for the time being in force.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the proposition contained in sub-section (1),
nothing in this Code shall be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any remedy which a landholder or landlord
may have under any law for the time being in force for the recovery of rent of agricultural land from the
produce of such land.
5. Application of the Code to Revenue Courts.
(1) Where any Revenue Courts are governed by the provisions of this Code in those matters of procedure upon
which any special enactment applicable to them is silent, the State Government may, by notification in the
Official Gazette, declare that any portions of those provisions which are not expressly made applicable by
this Code shall not apply to those Courts, or shall only apply to them with such modifications as the State
Government may prescribe.
(2) “Revenue Court” in sub-section (1) means a Court having jurisdiction under any local law to entertain
suits or other proceedings relating to the rent, revenue or profits of land used for agricultural purposes,
but does not include a Civil Court having original jurisdiction under this Code to try such suits or
proceedings as being suits or proceedings of a civil nature.
6. Pecuniary jurisdiction.
Save in so far as is otherwise expressly provided, nothing herein contained shall operate to give any Court
jurisdiction over suits the amount or value of the subject-matter of which exceeds the pecuniary limits (if
any) of its ordinary jurisdiction.
7. Provincial Small Cause Courts.
The following provisions shall not extend to Courts constituted under the Provincial Small Cause Courts
Act, 1887 (9 of 1887) or under the Berar Small Cause Courts Law, 1905, or to Courts exercising the
jurisdiction of a Court of Small Causes under the said Act or Law, or to Courts in any part of India to which
the said Act does not extend exercising a corresponding jurisdiction; that is to say,—
(a) so much of the body of the Code as relates to—
(a)(i) suits excepted from the cognizance of a Court of Small Causes;
(a)(ii) the execution of decrees in such suits;
(a)(iii) the execution of decrees against immovable property; and
(b) the following sections, that is to say,—
section 9,
sections 91 and 92,
sections 94 and 95 so far as they authorize or relate to—
(b)(i) orders for the attachment of immovable property,
(b)(ii) injunctions,
(b)(iii) the appointment of a receiver of immovable property, or
(b)(iv) the interlocutory orders referred to in clause (e) of section 94, and sections 96 to 112 and 115.
8. Presidency Small Cause Courts.
Save as provided in sections 24, 38 to 41, 75, clauses (a), (b) and (c), 76, 77, 157 and 158, and by the
Presidency Small Cause Courts Act, 1882 (15 of 1882), the provisions in the body of this Code shall not extend
to any suit or proceeding in any Court of Small Causes established in the towns of Calcutta, Madras and
Bombay:
Provided that—
(1) the High Courts of Judicature at Fort William, Madras and Bombay, as the case may be, may from time to
time, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that any such provisions not inconsistent with the
express provisions of the Presidency Small Cause Courts Act, 1882 (15 of 1882), and with such modifications
and adaptations as may be specified in the notification, shall extend to suits or proceedings or any class of
suits or proceedings in such Court;
(2) all rules heretofore made by any of the said High Courts under section 9 of the Presidency Small Cause
Courts Act, 1882 (15 of 1882) shall be deemed to have been validly made.
PART I: SUITS IN GENERAL
9. Courts to try all civil suits unless barred.
The Courts shall (subject to the provisions herein contained) have jurisdiction to try all suits of a civil
nature excepting suits of which their cognizance is either expressly or impliedly barred.
Explanation I.—A suit in which the right to property or to an office is contested is a suit of a civil nature,
notwithstanding that such right may depend entirely on the decision of questions as to religious rites or
ceremonies.
Explanation II.—For the purposes of this section, it is immaterial whether or not any fees are attached to the
office referred to in Explanation I or whether or not such office is attached to a particular place.
STATE AMENDMENTS
Maharashtra.—
After section 9, insert the following section 9A:
9A. Where at the hearing of application relating to interim relief in a suit, objection to jurisdiction is
taken such issue to be decided by the court as a preliminary issue:—
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this code or any other law for the time being in force, if at the
hearing of any application for granting or setting aside an order granting any interim relief, whether by way
of stay, injunction, appointment of a receiver or otherwise, made in any suit, an objection to the
jurisdiction of the court to entertain such suit is taken by any of the parties to the suit, the court shall
proceed to determine at the hearing of such application the issue as to the jurisdiction as a preliminary
issue before granting or setting aside the order granting the interim relief. Any such application shall be
heard and disposed of by the court as expeditiously as possible and shall not in any case be adjourned to the
hearing of the suit.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), at the hearing of any such application the court
may grant such interim relief as it may consider necessary, pending determination by it of the preliminary
issue as to the jurisdiction.
[Maharashtra Act No. 65 of 1977].
Notwithstanding the deletion of section 9A of the principal Act,—
(1) where consideration of a preliminary issue framed under section 9A is pending on the date of commencement
of the Code of Civil Procedure (Maharashtra Amendment) Act, 2018 (hereinafter, in this section, referred to as
“the Amendment Act”), the said issue shall be deemed to be an issue framed under Order XIV of the principal
Act and shall be decided by the Court, as it deems fit, along with all other issues, at the time of final
disposal of the suit itself :
Provided that, the evidence, if any, led by any party or parties to the suit, on the preliminary issue so
framed under section 9A, shall be considered by the Court along with evidence, if any, led on other issues in
the suit, at the time of final disposal of the suit itself ;
(2) in all the cases, where a preliminary issue framed under section 9A has been decided, holding that the
Court has jurisdiction to entertain the suit, and a challenge to such decision is pending before a revisional
Court, on the date of commencement of the Amendment Act, such revisional proceedings shall stand abated
:
Provided that, where a decree in such suit is appealed from any error, defect or irregularity in the order
upholding jurisdiction shall be treated as one of the ground of objection in the memorandum of appeal as if it
had been included in such memorandum;
(3) in all cases, where a preliminary issue framed under section 9A has been decided, holding that the Court
has no jurisdiction to entertain the suit, and a challenge to such decision is pending before an appellate or
revisional Court, on the date of commencement of the Amendment Act, such appellate or revisional proceedings
shall continue as if the Amendment Act has not been enacted and section 9A has not been deleted :
Provided that, in case the appellate or revisional Court, while partly allowing such appeal or revision,
remands the matter to the trial Court for reconsideration of the preliminary issue so framed under section 9A,
upon receipt of these proceedings by the trial Court, all the provisions of the principal Act shall apply
;
(4) in all cases, where an order granting an ad-interim relief has been passed under sub-section (2) of
section 9A prior to its deletion, such order shall be deemed to be an ad-interim order made under Order XXXIX
of the principal Act and the Court shall, at the time of deciding the application in which such an order is
made, either confirm or vacate or modify such order
[Vide Maharashtra Act 61 of 2018, sec. 3.]
10. Stay of suit.
No Court shall proceed with the trial of any suit in which the matter in issue is also directly and
substantially in issue in a previously instituted suit between the same parties, or between parties under whom
they or any of them claim litigating under the same title where such suit is pending in the same or any other
Court in India having jurisdiction to grant the relief claimed, or in any Court beyond the limits of India
established or continued by the Central Government and having like jurisdiction, or before the Supreme
Court.
Explanation.—The pendency of a suit in a foreign Court does not preclude the Courts in India from trying a
suit founded on the same cause of action.
11. Res judicata.
No Court shall try any suit or issue in which the matter directly and substantially in issue has been
directly and substantially in issue in a former suit between the same parties, or between parties under whom
they or any of them claim, litigating under the same title, in a Court competent to try such subsequent suit
or the suit in which such issue has been subsequently raised, and has been heard and finally decided by such
Court.
Explanation I.—The expression “former suit” shall denote a suit which has been decided prior to a suit in
question whether or not it was instituted prior thereto.
Explanation II.—For the purposes of this section, the competence of a Court shall be determined irrespective
of any provisions as to a right of appeal from the decision of such Court.
Explanation III.—The matter above referred to must in the former suit have been alleged by one party and
either denied or admitted, expressly or impliedly, by the other.
Explanation IV.—Any matter which might and ought to have been made ground of defence or attack in such former
suit shall be deemed to have been a matter directly and substantially in issue in such suit.
Explanation V.—Any relief claimed in the plaint, which is not expressly granted by the decree, shall for the
purposes of this section, be deemed to have been refused.
Explanation VI.—Where persons litigate bona fide in respect of a public right or of a private right claimed in
common for themselves and others, all persons interested in such right shall, for the purposes of this
section, be deemed to claim under the persons so litigating.
Explanation VII.—The provisions of this section shall apply to a proceeding for the execution of a decree and
references in this section to any suit, issue or former suit shall be construed as references, respectively,
to a proceeding for the execution of the decree, question arising in such proceeding and a former proceeding
for the execution of that decree.
Explanation VIII.—An issue heard and finally decided by a Court of limited jurisdiction, competent to decide
such issue, shall operate as res judicata in a subsequent suit, notwithstanding that such Court of limited
jurisdiction was not competent to try such subsequent suit or the suit in which such issue has been
subsequently raised.
12. Bar to further suit.
Where a plaintiff is precluded by rules from instituting a further suit in respect of any particular cause
of action, he shall not be entitled to institute a suit in respect of such cause of action in any Court to
which this Code applies.
13. When foreign judgment not conclusive.
A foreign judgment shall be conclusive as to any matter thereby directly adjudicated upon between the same
parties or between parties under whom they or any of them claim litigating under the same title except—
(a) where it has not been pronounced by a Court of competent jurisdiction;
(b) where it has not been given on the merits of the case;
(c) where it appears on the face of the proceedings to be founded on an incorrect view of international law or
a refusal to recognise the law of India in cases in which such law is applicable;
(d) where the proceedings in which the judgment was obtained are opposed to natural justice;
(e) where it has been obtained by fraud;
(f) where it sustains a claim founded on a breach of any law in force in India.
14. Presumption as to foreign judgments.
The Court shall presume, upon the production of any document purporting to be a certified copy of a foreign
judgment, that such judgment was pronounced by a Court of competent jurisdiction, unless the contrary appears
on the record; but such presumption may be displaced by proving want of jurisdiction.
15. Court in which suits to be instituted.
Every suit shall be instituted in the Court of the lowest grade competent to try it.
16. Suits to be instituted where subject-matter situate.
Subject to the pecuniary or other limitations prescribed by any law, suits—
(a) for the recovery of immovable property with or without rent or profits,
(b) for the partition of immovable property,
(c) for foreclosure, sale or redemption in the case of a mortgage of or charge upon immovable property,
(d) for the determination of any other right to or interest in immovable property,
(e) for compensation for wrong to immovable property,
(f) for the recovery of movable property actually under distraint or attachment,
shall be instituted in the Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the property is situate:
Provided that a suit to obtain relief respecting, or compensation for wrong to, immovable property held by or
on behalf of the defendant may, where the relief sought can be entirely obtained through his personal
obedience, be instituted either in the Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the property is
situate, or in the Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the defendant actually and voluntarily
resides, or carries on business, or personally works for gain.
Explanation.—In this section “property” means property situate in India.
17. Suits for immovable property situate within jurisdiction of different Courts.
Where a suit is to obtain relief respecting, or compensation for wrong to, immovable property situate
within the jurisdiction of different Courts, the suit may be instituted in any Court within the local limits
of whose jurisdiction any portion of the property is situate:
Provided that, in respect of the value of the subject-matter of the suit, the entire claim is cognizable by
such Court.
18. Place of Institution of suit where local limits of jurisdiction of Courts are uncertain.
(1) Where it is alleged to be uncertain within the local limits of the jurisdiction of which of two or more
Courts any immovable property is situate, any one of those Courts may, if satisfied that there is ground for
the alleged uncertainty, record a statement to that effect and thereupon proceed to entertain and dispose of
any suit relating to that property, and its decree in the suit shall have the same effect as if the property
were situate within the local limits of its jurisdiction:
Provided that the suit is one with respect to which the Court is competent as regards the nature and value of
the suit to exercise jurisdiction.
(2) Where a statement has not been recorded under sub-section (1), and an objection is taken before an
Appellate or Revisional Court that a decree or order in a suit relating to such property was made by a Court
not having jurisdiction where the property is situate, the Appellate or Revisional Court shall not allow the
objection unless in its opinion there was, at the time of the institution of the suit, no reasonable ground
for uncertainty as to the court having jurisdiction with respect thereto and there has been a consequent
failure of justice.
19. Suits for compensation for wrongs to person or movables.
Where a suit is for compensation for wrong done to the person or to movable property, if the wrong was done
within the local limits of the jurisdiction of one Court and the defendant resides, or carries on business, or
personally works for gain, within the local limits of the jurisdiction of another Court, the suit may be
instituted at the option of the plaintiff in either of the said Courts.
Illustrations:
(a) A, residing in Delhi, beats B in Calcutta. B may sue A either in Calcutta or in Delhi.
(b) A, residing in Delhi, publishes in Calcutta statements defamatory of B. B may sue A either in Calcutta or
in Delhi.
20. Other suits to be instituted where defendants reside or cause of action arises.
Subject to the limitations aforesaid, every suit shall be instituted in a Court within the local limits of
whose jurisdiction—
(a) the defendant, or each of the defendants where there are more than one, at the time of the commencement of
the suit, actually and voluntarily resides, or carries on business, or personally works for gain; or
(b) any of the defendants, where there are more than one, at the time of the commencement of the suit,
actually and voluntarily resides, or carries on business, or personally works for gain, provided that in such
case either the leave of the Court is given, or the defendants who do not reside, or carry on business, or
personally work for gain, as aforesaid, acquiesce in such institution; or
(c) the cause of action, wholly or in part, arises.
Explanation.—A corporation shall be deemed to carry on business at its sole or principal office in India or,
in respect of any cause of action arising at any place where it has also a subordinate office, at such
place.
Illustrations:
(a) A is a tradesman in Calcutta. B carries on business in Delhi. B, by his agent in Calcutta, buys goods of A
and requests A to deliver them to the East Indian Railway Company. A delivers the goods accordingly in
Calcutta. A may sue B for the price of the goods either in Calcutta, where the cause of action has arisen, or
in Delhi, where B carries on business.
(b) A resides at Simla, B at Calcutta, and C at Delhi. A, B, and C being together at Benaras, B and C make a
joint promissory note payable on demand, and deliver it to A. A may sue B and C at Benaras, where the cause of
action arose. He may also sue them at Calcutta, where B resides, or at Delhi, where C resides; but in each of
these cases, if the non-resident defendant objects, the suit cannot proceed without the leave of the Court.
21. Objections to jurisdiction.
(1) No objection as to the place of suing shall be allowed by any Appellate or Revisional Court unless such
objection was taken in the Court of first instance at the earliest possible opportunity and in all cases where
issues are settled at or before such settlement, and unless there has been a consequent failure of
justice.
(2) No objection as to the competence of a Court with reference to the pecuniary limits of its jurisdiction
shall be allowed by any Appellate or Revisional Court unless such objection was taken in the Court of first
instance at the earliest possible opportunity, and, in all cases where issues are settled, at or before such
settlement, and unless there has been a consequent failure of justice.
(3) No objection as to the competence of the executing Court with reference to the local limits of its
jurisdiction shall be allowed by any Appellate or Revisional Court unless such objection was taken in the
executing Court at the earliest possible opportunity, and unless there has been a consequent failure of
justice.
21A. Bar on suit to set aside decree on objection as to place of suing.
No suit shall lie challenging the validity of a decree passed in a former suit between the same parties, or
between the parties under whom they or any of them claim, litigating under the same title, on any ground based
on an objection as to the place of suing.
Explanation.—The expression 'former suit' means a suit which has been decided prior to the decision in the
suit in which the validity of the decree is questioned, whether or not the previously decided suit was
instituted prior to the suit in which the validity of such decree is questioned.
22. Power to transfer suits which may be instituted in more than one Court.
Where a suit may be instituted in any one of two or more Courts and is instituted in one of such Courts,
any defendant, after notice to the other parties, may, at the earliest possible opportunity and in all cases
where issues are settled at or before such settlement, apply to have the suit transferred to another Court,
and the Court to which such application is made, after considering the objections of the other parties (if
any), shall determine in which of the several Courts having jurisdiction the suit shall proceed.
23. To what Court application lies.
(1) Where the several Courts having jurisdiction are subordinate to the same Appellate Court, an
application under section 22 shall be made to the Appellate Court.
(2) Where such Courts are subordinate to different Appellate Courts but to the same High Court, the
application shall be made to the said High Court.
(3) Where such Courts are subordinate to different High Courts, the application shall be made to the High
Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the Court in which the suit is brought is situate.
24. General power of transfer and withdrawal.
(1) On the application of any of the parties and after notice to the parties and hearing those who wish to
be heard, or on its own motion without such notice, the High Court or the District Court may at any
stage:
(1)(a) Transfer any suit, appeal, or other proceeding pending before it for trial or disposal to any Court
subordinate to it and competent to try or dispose of the same; or
(1)(b) Withdraw any suit, appeal, or other proceeding pending in any Court subordinate to it, and:
(1)(b)(i) Try or dispose of the same; or
(1)(b)(ii) Transfer it for trial or disposal to any Court subordinate to it and competent to try or dispose of
the same; or
(1)(b)(iii) Retransfer it for trial or disposal to the Court from which it was withdrawn.
(2) Where any suit or proceeding has been transferred or withdrawn under sub-section (1), the Court which is
thereafter to try or dispose of such suit or proceeding may, subject to any special directions in the case of
an order of transfer, either retry it or proceed from the point at which it was transferred or
withdrawn.
(3) For the purposes of this section:
(3)(a) Courts of Additional and Assistant Judges shall be deemed to be subordinate to the District
Court;
(3)(b) 'Proceeding' includes a proceeding for the execution of a decree or order.
(4) The Court trying any suit transferred or withdrawn under this section from a Court of Small Causes shall,
for the
[(5) A suit or proceeding may be transferred under this section from a Court which has no jurisdictionto try
it.]
25. Power of Supreme Court to transfer suits, etc.
(1) On the application of a party, and after notice to the parties, and after hearing such of them as
desire to be heard, the Supreme Court may, at any stage, if satisfied that an order under this section is
expedient for the ends of justice, direct that any suit, appeal or other proceeding be transferred from a High
Court or other Civil Court in one State to a High Court or other Civil Court in any other State.
(2) Every application under this section shall be made by a motion which shall be supported by an
affidavit.
(3) The Court to which such suit, appeal or other proceeding is transferred shall, subject to any special
directions in the order of transfer, either retry it or proceed from the stage at which it was transferred to
it.
(4) In dismissing any application under this section, the Supreme Court may, if it is of opinion that the
application was frivolous or vexatious, order the applicant to pay by way of compensation to any person who
has opposed the application such sum, not exceeding two thousand rupees, as it considers appropriate in the
circumstances of the case.
(5) The law applicable to any suit, appeal or other proceeding transferred under this section shall be the law
which the Court in which the suit, appeal or other proceeding was originally instituted ought to have applied
to such suit, appeal or proceeding.
26. Institution of suits
(1) Every suit shall be instituted by the presentation of a plaint or in such other manner as may be
prescribed.
(2) In every plaint, facts shall be proved by affidavit.
Provided that such an affidavit shall be in the form and manner as prescribed under Order VI of Rule 15A.
27. Summons to defendants
Where a suit has been duly instituted, a summons may be issued to the defendant to appear and answer the
claim and may be served in manner prescribed on such day not beyond thirty days from date of the institution
of the suit.
28. Service of summons where defendant resides in another State
(1) A summons may be sent for service in another State to such Court and in such manner as may be
prescribed by rules in force in that State.
(2) The Court to which such summons is sent shall, upon receipt thereof, proceed as if it had been issued by
such Court and shall then return the summons to the Court of issue together with the record (if any) of its
proceedings with regard thereto.
(3) Where the language of the summons sent for service in another State is different from the language of the
record referred to in sub-section (2), a translation of the record,
(3)(a) in Hindi, where the language of the Court issuing the summons is Hindi, or
(3)(b) in Hindi or English where the language of such record is other than Hindi or English, shall also be
sent together with the record sent under that sub-section.
29. Service of foreign summonses
Summonses and other processes issued by—
(a) any Civil or Revenue Court established in any part of India to which the provisions of this Code do not
extend, or
(b) any Civil or Revenue Court established or continued by the authority of the Central Government outside
India, or
(c) any other Civil or Revenue Court outside India to which the Central Government has, by notification in the
Official Gazette, declared the provisions of this section to apply,
may be sent to the Courts in the territories to which this Code extends, and served as if they were summonses
issued by such Courts.
30. Power to order discovery and the like
Subject to such conditions and limitations as may be prescribed, the Court may, at any time, either of its
own motion or on the application of any party,—
(a) make such orders as may be necessary or reasonable in all matters relating to the delivery and answering
of interrogatories, the admission of documents and facts, and the discovery, inspection, production,
impounding and return of documents or other material objects producible as evidence;
(b) issue summonses to persons whose attendance is required either to give evidence or to produce documents or
such other objects as aforesaid;
(c) order any fact to be proved by affidavit.
31. Summons to witness
The provisions in sections 27, 28 and 29 shall apply to summonses to give evidence or to produce documents
or other material objects.
32. Penalty for default
The Court may compel the attendance of any person to whom a summons has been issued under section 30 and
for that purpose may—
(a) issue a warrant for his arrest;
(b) attach and sell his property;
(c) impose a fine upon him not exceeding five thousand rupees;
(d) order him to furnish security for his appearance and in default commit him to the civil prison.
33. Judgment and decree
The Court, after the case has been heard, shall pronounce judgment, and on such judgment a decree shall
follow.
34. Interest
(1) Where and in so far as a decree is for the payment of money, the Court may, in the decree, order
interest at such rate as the Court deems reasonable to be paid on the principal sum adjudged, from the date of
the suit to the date of the decree, in addition to any interest adjudged on such principal sum for any period
prior to the institution of the suit, with further interest at such rate not exceeding six per cent. per annum
as the Court deems reasonable on such principal sum, from the date of the decree to the date of payment, or to
such earlier date as the Court thinks fit.
Provided that where the liability in relation to the sum so adjudged had arisen out of a commercial
transaction, the rate of such further interest may exceed six per cent. per annum, but shall not exceed the
contractual rate of interest or where there is no contractual rate, the rate at which moneys are lent or
advanced by nationalised banks in relation to commercial transactions.
Explanation I.—In this sub-section, 'nationalised bank' means a corresponding new bank as defined in the
Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 (5 of 1970).
Explanation II.—For the purposes of this section, a transaction is a commercial transaction, if it is
connected with the industry, trade or business of the party incurring the liability.
(2) Where such a decree is silent with respect to the payment of further interest on such principal sum from
the date of the decree to the date of payment or other earlier date, the Court shall be deemed to have refused
such interest, and a separate suit therefor shall not lie.
35. Costs
(1) Subject to such conditions and limitations as may be prescribed, and to the provisions of any law for
the time being in force, the costs of and incident to all suits shall be in the discretion of the Court, and
the Court shall have full power to determine by whom or out of what property and to what extent such costs are
to be paid, and to give all necessary directions for the purposes aforesaid. The fact that the Court has no
jurisdiction to try the suit shall be no bar to the exercise of such powers.
(2) Where the Court directs that any costs shall not follow the event, the Court shall state its reasons in
writing.
35. Costs
(1) In relation to any Commercial dispute, the Court, notwithstanding anything contained in any other law
for the time being in force or Rule, has the discretion to determine:
(1)(a) whether costs are payable by one party to another;
(1)(b) the quantum of those costs; and
(1)(c) when they are to be paid.
Explanation.—For the purpose of clause (a), the expression 'costs' shall mean reasonable costs relating
to—
(i) the fees and expenses of the witnesses incurred;
(ii) legal fees and expenses incurred;
(iii) any other expenses incurred in connection with the proceedings.
(2) If the Court decides to make an order for payment of costs, the general rule is that the unsuccessful
party shall be ordered to pay the costs of the successful party:
Provided that the Court may make an order deviating from the general rule for reasons to be recorded in
writing.
Illustration: The Plaintiff, in his suit, seeks a money decree for breach of contract, and damages. The Court
holds that the Plaintiff is entitled to the money decree. However, it returns a finding that the claim for
damages is frivolous and vexatious.
In such circumstances, the Court may impose costs on the Plaintiff, despite the Plaintiff being the successful
party, for having raised frivolous claims for damages.
(3) In making an order for the payment of costs, the Court shall have regard to the following circumstances,
including—
(3)(a) the conduct of the parties;
(3)(b) whether a party has succeeded on part of its case, even if that party has not been wholly
successful;
(3)(c) whether the party had made a frivolous counterclaim leading to delay in the disposal of the case;
(3)(d) whether any reasonable offer to settle is made by a party and unreasonably refused by the other
party;
(3)(e) whether the party had made a frivolous claim and instituted a vexatious proceeding wasting the time of
the Court.
(4) The orders which the Court may make under this provision include an order that a party must pay––
(4)(a) a proportion of another party’s costs;
(4)(b) a stated amount in respect of another party’s costs;
(4)(c) costs from or until a certain date;
(4)(d) costs incurred before proceedings have begun;
(4)(e) costs relating to particular steps taken in the proceedings;
(4)(f) costs relating to a distinct part of the proceedings;
(4)(g) interest on costs from or until a certain date.
State Amendments
Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh (UTs).—
In Section 35, in sub-section (1), omit 'Commercial'.
[Vide the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, notification No. S.O.
1123(E) dated (18-3-2020) and vide Union Territory of Ladakh Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws)
Order, 2020, Notification No. S.O. 3774(E), dated (23-10-2020)].
35A. Compensatory costs in respect of false or vexatious claims or defences
(1) If in any suit or other proceedings, including an execution proceeding but excluding an appeal or a
revision, any party objects to the claim or defence on the ground that the claim or defence or any part of it
is, as against the objector, false or vexatious to the knowledge of the party by whom it has been put forward,
and if thereafter, as against the objector, such claim or defence is disallowed, abandoned or withdrawn in
whole or in part, the Court, if it so thinks fit, may, after recording its reasons for holding such claim or
defence to be false or vexatious, make an order for the payment to the objector by the party by whom such
claim or defence has been put forward, of cost by way of compensation.
(2) No Court shall make any such order for the payment of an amount exceeding three thousand rupees or
exceeding the limits of its pecuniary jurisdiction, whichever amount is less:
Provided that where the pecuniary limits of the jurisdiction of any Court exercising the jurisdiction of a
Court of Small Causes under the Provincial Small Cause Courts Act, 1887 (9 of 1887), or under a corresponding
law in force in any part of India to which the said Act does not extend and not being a Court constituted
under such Act or law, are less than two hundred and fifty rupees, the High Court may empower such Court to
award as costs under this section any amount not exceeding two hundred and fifty rupees and not exceeding
those limits by more than one hundred rupees.
Provided, further, that the High Court may limit the amount which any Court or class of Courts is empowered to
award as costs under this section.
(3) No person against whom an order has been made under this section shall, by reason thereof, be exempted
from any criminal liability in respect of any claim or defence made by him.
(4) The amount of any compensation awarded under this section in respect of a false or vexatious claim or
defence shall be taken into account in any subsequent suit for damages or compensation in respect of such
claim or defence.
State Amendments
Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh (UTs).—
In Section 35A, omit sub-section (2).
[Vide the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, notification No. S.O.
1123(E) dated (18-3-2020) and vide Union Territory of Ladakh Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws)
Order, 2020, Notification No. S.O. 3774(E), dated (23-10-2020)].
Uttar Pradesh Amendment.—
Amendment of section 35A of Act V of 1908.—In the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (hereinafter in this Chapter
referred to as the principal Act) in section 35A, after sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be
inserted, namely:
'(1A) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall mutatis mutandis apply to an appeal where the appellate court
confirms the decision of the trial court and the trial court has not awarded, or has awarded insufficient,
compensatory cost under that sub-section.'
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 57 of 1976, s. 2]
Uttar Pradesh
Section 35-A or Schedule of the Act.—
(1) For the existing sub-section (1), the following shall be substituted ;
“(1) If in any suit or other proceeding, including proceedings in execution, but not being an appeal or
revision, the court finds that the claim or defense or any part thereof is false or vexatious to the knowledge
of the party by whom it has been put forward and if such claim or defense or such part is disallowed abandoned
or withdrawn in whole or in part, the court may, after recording its reasons for holding such claim or defense
to be false or vexatious,make an order for the payment to the successful party of costs by way of compensation
irrespective of the decision on other issuesin the case.”
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act XXIV of 1954, s. 3]
35B. Costs for causing delay
(1) If, on any date fixed for the hearing of a suit or for taking any step therein, a party to the
suit—
(1)(a) fails to take the step which he was required by or under this Code to take on that date, or
(1)(b) obtains an adjournment for taking such step or for producing evidence or on any other ground,
the Court may, for reasons to be recorded, make an order requiring such party to pay to the other party such
costs as would, in the opinion of the Court, be reasonably sufficient to reimburse the other party in respect
of the expenses incurred by him in attending the Court on that date, and payment of such costs, on the date
next following the date of such order, shall be a condition precedent to the further prosecution of—
(a) the suit by the plaintiff, where the plaintiff was ordered to pay such costs,
(b) the defence by the defendant, where the defendant was ordered to pay such costs.
Explanation.—Where separate defences have been raised by the defendant or groups of defendants, payment of
such costs shall be a condition precedent to the further prosecution of the defence by such defendants or
groups of defendants as have been ordered by the Court to pay such costs.
(2) The costs, ordered to be paid under sub-section (1), shall not, if paid, be included in the costs awarded
in the decree passed in the suit; but, if such costs are not paid, a separate order shall be drawn up
indicating the amount of such costs and the names and addresses of the persons by whom such costs are payable
and the order so drawn up shall be executable against such persons.
PART II: EXECUTION GENERAL
36. Application to orders
The provisions of this Code relating to the execution of decrees (including provisions relating to payment
under a decree) shall, so far as they are applicable, be deemed to apply to the execution of orders (including
payment under an order).
37. Definition of Court which passed a decree
The expression 'Court which passed a decree,' or words to that effect, shall, in relation to the execution
of decrees, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, be deemed to include,—
(a) where the decree to be executed has been passed in the exercise of appellate jurisdiction, the Court of
first instance, and
(b) where the Court of first instance has ceased to exist or to have jurisdiction to execute it, the Court
which, if the suit wherein the decree was passed was instituted at the time of making the application for the
execution of the decree, would have jurisdiction to try such suit.
Explanation.—The Court of first instance does not cease to have jurisdiction to execute a decree merely on the
ground that after the institution of the suit wherein the decree was passed or after the passing of the
decree, any area has been transferred from the jurisdiction of that Court to the jurisdiction of any other
Court; but, in every such case, such other Court shall also have jurisdiction to execute the decree, if at the
time of making the application for execution of the decree it would have jurisdiction to try the said suit.
38. Court by which decree may be executed
A decree may be executed either by the Court which passed it, or by the Court to which it is sent for
execution.
39. Transfer of decree
(1) The Court which passed a decree may, on the application of the decree-holder, send it for execution to
another Court of competent jurisdiction,—
(1)(a) if the person against whom the decree is passed actually and voluntarily resides or carries on
business, or personally works for gain, within the local limits of the jurisdiction of such other Court,
or
(1)(b) if such person has not property within the local limits of the jurisdiction of the Court which passed
the decree sufficient to satisfy such decree and has property within the local limits of the jurisdiction of
such other Court, or
(1)(c) if the decree directs the sale or delivery of immovable property situate outside the local limits of
the jurisdiction of the Court which passed it, or
(1)(d) if the Court which passed the decree considers for any other reason, which it shall record in writing,
that the decree should be executed by such other Court.
(2) The Court which passed a decree may of its own motion send it for execution to any subordinate Court of
competent jurisdiction.
(3) For the purposes of this section, a Court shall be deemed to be a Court of competent jurisdiction if, at
the time of making the application for the transfer of decree to it, such Court would have jurisdiction to try
the suit in which such decree was passed.
(4) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to authorise the Court which passed a decree to execute such
decree against any person or property outside the local limits of its jurisdiction.
State Amendment - Uttar Pradesh
Amendment of section 39 of Act No. 5 of 1908.— In section 39 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, hereinafter
referred to as the said Code, for sub-section (3), the following sub-section shall be substituted,
namely:
'(3) For the purposes of this section, a Court shall be deemed to be a Court of competent jurisdiction if the
amount or value of the subject-matter of the suit wherein the decree was passed does not exceed the pecuniary
limits, if any, of its ordinary jurisdiction at the time of making the application for the transfer of decree
to it, notwithstanding that it had otherwise no jurisdiction to try the suit.'
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 31 of 1978, s. 2]
40. Transfer of decree to Court in another State
Where a decree is sent for execution in another State, it shall be sent to such Court and executed in such
manner as may be prescribed by rules in force in that State.
41. Result of execution proceedings to be certified
The Court to which a decree is sent for execution shall certify to the Court which passed it the fact of
such execution, or where the former Court fails to execute the same, the circumstances attending such failure.
42. Powers of Court in executing transferred decree
(1) The Court executing a decree sent to it shall have the same powers in executing such decree as if it
had been passed by itself. All persons disobeying or obstructing the execution of the decree shall be
punishable by such Court in the same manner as if it had passed the decree. And its order in executing such
decree shall be subject to the same rules in respect of appeal as if the decree had been passed by
itself.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), the powers of the Court under
that sub-section shall include the following powers of the Court which passed the decree, namely:—
(2)(a) power to send the decree for execution to another Court under section 39;
(2)(b) power to execute the decree against the legal representative of the deceased judgment-debtor under
section 50;
(2)(c) power to order attachment of a decree.
(3) A Court passing an order in exercise of the powers specified in sub-section (2) shall send a copy thereof
to the Court which passed the decree.
(4) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to confer on the Court to which a decree is sent for execution any
of the following powers, namely:—
(4)(a) power to order execution at the instance of the transferee of the decree;
(4)(b) in the case of a decree passed against a firm, power to grant leave to execute such decree against any
person, other than such a person as is referred to in clause (b), or clause (c) of sub-rule (1) of rule 50 of
Order XXI.
State Amendment - Uttar Pradesh
Substitution of new section for section 42 of Act V of 1908.— For section 42 of the Code of Civil Procedure,
1908, as amended in its application to Uttar Pradesh (hereinafter referred to as the said Code), the following
section shall be substituted and be deemed to have been substituted with effect from December 2, 1968,
namely:
'42. Power of Court in executing transferred decree.—
(1) The Court executing a decree sent to it shall have the same powers in executing such decree as if it had
been passed by itself. All persons disobeying or obstructing the execution of the decree shall be punishable
by such Court in the same manner as if it had passed the decree, and its order in executing such decree shall
be subject to the same rules in respect of appeal as if the decree had been passed by itself.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), the powers of the Court under
that sub-section shall include the following powers of the Court which passed the decree, namely —
(2)(a) power to send the decree for execution to another Court under section 39;
(2)(b) power to execute the decree against the legal representative of the deceased judgment-debtor under
section 50;
(2)(c) power to order attachment of a decree;
(2)(d) power to decide any question relating to the bar of limitation to the executability of the
decree;
(2)(e) power to record payment or adjustment under rule 2 of Order XXI;
(2)(f) power to order stay of execution under rule 29 of Order XXI;
(2)(g) in the case of a decree passed against a firm, power to grant leave to execute such decree against any
person other than a person as is referred to in clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-rule (1) of rule 50 of Order
XXI.
(3) A Court passing an order in exercise of the powers specified in sub-section (2) shall send a copy thereof
to the Court which passed the decree.
(4) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to confer on the Court to which a decree is sent for execution,
the power to order execution at the instance of the transferee of a decree.'
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 14 of 1970, s. 2]
43. Execution of decrees passed by Civil Courts in places to which this Code does not extend
Any decree passed by any Civil Court established in any part of India to which the provisions of this Code
do not extend, or by any Court established or continued by the authority of the Central Government outside
India, may, if it cannot be executed within the jurisdiction of the Court by which it was passed, be executed
in the manner herein provided within the jurisdiction of any Court in the territories to which this Code
extends.
44. Execution of decrees passed by Revenue Courts in places to which this Code does not extend
The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that the decrees of any Revenue
Court in any part of India to which the provisions of this Code do not extend, or any class of such decrees,
may be executed in the State as if they had been passed by Courts in that State.
44A. Execution of decrees passed by Courts in reciprocating territory
(1) Where a certified copy of a decree of any of the superior Courts of any reciprocating territory has
been filed in a District Court, the decree may be executed in India as if it had been passed by the District
Court.
(2) Together with the certified copy of the decree shall be filed a certificate from such superior Court
stating the extent, if any, to which the decree has been satisfied or adjusted, and such certificate shall,
for the purposes of proceedings under this section, be conclusive proof of the extent of such satisfaction or
adjustment.
(3) The provisions of section 47 shall, as from the filing of the certified copy of the decree, apply to the
proceedings of a District Court executing a decree under this section, and the District Court shall refuse
execution of any such decree if it is shown to the satisfaction of the Court that the decree falls within any
of the exceptions specified in clauses (a) to (f) of section 13.
Explanation 1.— 'Reciprocating territory' means any country or territory outside India which the Central
Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare to be a reciprocating territory for the
purposes of this section; and 'superior Courts', with reference to any such territory, means such Courts as
may be specified in the said notification.
Explanation 2.— 'Decree' with reference to a superior Court means any decree or judgment of such Court under
which a sum of money is payable, not being a sum payable in respect of taxes or other charges of a like nature
or in respect of a fine or other penalty, but shall in no case include an arbitration award, even if such an
award is enforceable as a decree or judgment.
45. Execution of decrees outside India
So much of the foregoing sections of this Part as empowers a Court to send a decree for execution to
another Court shall be construed as empowering a Court in any State to send a decree for execution to any
Court established by the authority of the Central Government outside India to which the State Government has
by notification in the Official Gazette declared this section to apply.
46. Precepts
(1) Upon the application of the decree-holder, the Court which passed the decree may, whenever it thinks
fit, issue a precept to any other Court which would be competent to execute such decree to attach any property
belonging to the judgment-debtor and specified in the precept.
(2) The Court to which a precept is sent shall proceed to attach the property in the manner prescribed in
regard to the attachment of property in execution of a decree:
Provided that no attachment under a precept shall continue for more than two months unless the period of
attachment is extended by an order of the Court which passed the decree or unless before the determination of
such attachment the decree has been transferred to the Court by which the attachment has been made and the
decree-holder has applied for an order for the sale of such property.
47. Questions to be determined by the Court executing decree
(1) All questions arising between the parties to the suit in which the decree was passed, or their
representatives, and relating to the execution, discharge or satisfaction of the decree, shall be determined
by the Court executing the decree and not by a separate suit.
(2) [Omitted by Act 104 of 1976, s. 20]
(3) Where a question arises as to whether any person is or is not the representative of a party, such question
shall, for the purposes of this section, be determined by the Court.
Explanation I.—For the purposes of this section, a plaintiff whose suit has been dismissed and a defendant
against whom a suit has been dismissed are parties to the suit.
Explanation II.—
(a) For the purposes of this section, a purchaser of property at a sale in execution of a decree shall be
deemed to be a party to the suit in which the decree is passed; and
(b) all questions relating to the delivery of possession of such property to such purchaser or his
representative shall be deemed to be questions relating to the execution, discharge or satisfaction of the
decree within the meaning of this section.
State Amendment - Uttar Pradesh
Amendment of section 47.— In section 47 of the principal Act, Explanation II inserted by the U. P. Civil Laws
(Reforms and Amendment) Act, 1954, shall be omitted.
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 57 of 1976, s. 3]
48. Execution barred in certain cases
This section has been repealed by the Limitation Act, 1963 (36 of 1963), s. 28 (w.e.f. 1-1-1964).
State Amendment - Rajasthan
Insertion of new section 48A.— After section 48 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central Act V of 1908),
in its application to the State of Rajasthan, the following new section shall be, and be deemed always to have
been inserted.
48A. Varied application of section 48
For the purposes of the application of section 48 to the State of Rajasthan;-
(i) a decree, made before the twenty-fifth day of January, 1950, in those parts of Rajasthan where a
corresponding provision did not then exist, shall, unless it shall have become time-barred or otherwise
infructuous before the said day in accordance with any law then prevailing in those parts, be deemed to have
been made on the said day, and
(ii) Where a decree might have been made before the twenty-fifth day of January, 1950 in those parts of
Rajasthan where a corresponding provision then existed, with a period longer than twelve years provided
therein such longer period or the period of twelve years from the said day whichever expires first shall be
the period after which, according to section 48, no order for execution shall be made.
[Vide Rajasthan Act XX of 1952, s. 2]
49. Transferee
Every transferee of a decree shall hold the same subject to the equities (if any) which the judgment-debtor
might have enforced against the original decree-holder.
50. Legal representative
(1) Where a judgment-debtor dies before the decree has been fully satisfied, the holder of the decree may
apply to the Court which passed it to execute the same against the legal representative of the deceased.
(2) Where the decree is executed against such legal representative, he shall be liable only to the extent of
the property of the deceased which has come to his hands and has not been duly disposed of; and, for the
purpose of ascertaining such liability, the Court executing the decree may, of its own motion or on the
application of the decree-holder, compel such legal representative to produce such accounts as it thinks fit.
51. Powers of Court to enforce execution
Subject to such conditions and limitations as may be prescribed, the Court may, on the application of the
decree-holder, order execution of the decree—
(a) by delivery of any property specifically decreed;
(b) by attachment and sale or by the sale without attachment of any property;
(c) by arrest and detention in prison for such period not exceeding the period specified in section 58, where
arrest and detention is permissible under that section;
(d) by appointing a receiver; or
(e) in such other manner as the nature of the relief granted may require.
Provided that, where the decree is for the payment of money, execution by detention in prison shall not be
ordered unless, after giving the judgment-debtor an opportunity of showing cause why he should not be
committed to prison, the Court, for reasons recorded in writing, is satisfied—
(a) that the judgment-debtor, with the object or effect of obstructing or delaying the execution of the
decree,—
(a)(i) is likely to abscond or leave the local limits of the jurisdiction of the Court, or
(a)(ii) has, after the institution of the suit in which the decree was passed, dishonestly transferred,
concealed, or removed any part of his property, or committed any other act of bad faith in relation to his
property, or
(b) that the judgment-debtor has, or has had since the date of the decree, the means to pay the amount of the
decree or some substantial part thereof and refuses or neglects or has refused or neglected to pay the same,
or
(c) that the decree is for a sum for which the judgment-debtor was bound in a fiduciary capacity to
account.
Explanation. —In the calculation of the means of the judgment-debtor for the purposes of clause (b), there
shall be left out of account any property which, by or under any law or custom having the force of law for the
time being in force, is exempt from attachment in execution of the decree.
52. Enforcement of decree against legal representative
(1) Where a decree is passed against a party as the legal representative of a deceased person, and the
decree is for the payment of money out of the property of the deceased, it may be executed by the attachment
and sale of any such property.
(2) Where no such property remains in the possession of the judgment-debtor and he fails to satisfy the Court
that he has duly applied such property of the deceased as is proved to have come into his possession, the
decree may be executed against the judgment-debtor to the extent of the property in respect of which he has
failed so to satisfy the Court in the same manner as if the decree had been against him personally.
53. Liability of ancestral property
For the purposes of section 50 and section 52, property in the hands of a son or other descendant which is
liable under Hindu law for the payment of the debt of a deceased ancestor, in respect of which a decree has
been passed, shall be deemed to be property of the deceased which has come to the hands of the son or other
descendant as his legal representative.
54. Partition of estate or separation of share
Where the decree is for the partition of an undivided estate assessed to the payment of revenue to the
Government, or for the separate possession of a share of such an estate, the partition of the estate or the
separation of the share shall be made by the Collector or any gazetted subordinate of the Collector deputed by
him in this behalf, in accordance with the law (if any) for the time being in force relating to the partition,
or the separate possession of shares, of such estates.
State Amendment - Karnataka
For Section 54, the following Section shall be substituted, namely:—
'54. Partition of estate or separation of share.— Where the decree is for the partition of an undivided estate
assessed to the payment of revenue to the Government, or for the separate possession of a share of such an
estate, the partition of the estate or the separation of the share of such an estate shall be made by the
Court in accordance with the law if any, for the time being in force relating to the partition or the separate
possession of shares, and if necessary on the report of a revenue officer, not below the rank of Tahsildar or
such other person as the Court may appoint as Commissioner in that behalf.'
[Vide Karnataka Act 36 of 1998, sec. 2.]
55. Arrest and detention
(1) A judgment-debtor may be arrested in execution of a decree at any hour and on any day, and shall, as
soon as practicable, be brought before the Court, and his detention may be in the civil prison of the district
in which the Court ordering the detention is situated, or, where such civil prison does not afford suitable
accommodation, in any other place which the State Government may appoint for the detention of persons ordered
by the Courts of such district to be detained.
Provided, firstly, that, for the purpose of making an arrest under this section, no dwelling-house shall be
entered after sunset and before sunrise.
Provided, secondly, that no outer door of a dwelling-house shall be broken open unless such dwelling-house is
in the occupancy of the judgment-debtor and he refuses or in any way prevents access thereto, but when the
officer authorized to make the arrest has duly gained access to any dwelling-house, he may break open the door
of any room in which he has reason to believe the judgment-debtor is to be found.
Provided, thirdly, that, if the room is in the actual occupancy of a woman who is not the judgment-debtor and
who, according to the customs of the country, does not appear in public, the officer authorized to make the
arrest shall give notice to her that she is at liberty to withdraw, and, after allowing a reasonable time for
her to withdraw and giving her reasonable facility for withdrawing, may enter the room for the purpose of
making the arrest.
Provided, fourthly, that, where the decree in execution of which a judgment-debtor is arrested, is a decree
for the payment of money and the judgment-debtor pays the amount of the decree and the costs of the arrest to
the officer arresting him, such officer shall at once release him.
(2) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that any person or class of
persons whose arrest might be attended with danger or inconvenience to the public shall not be liable to
arrest in execution of a decree otherwise than in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed by the
State Government in this behalf.
(3) Where a judgment-debtor is arrested in execution of a decree for the payment of money and brought before
the Court, the Court shall inform him that he may apply to be declared an insolvent, and that he may be
discharged if he has not committed any act of bad faith regarding the subject of the application and if he
complies with the provisions of the law of insolvency for the time being in force.
(4) Where a judgment-debtor expresses his intention to apply to be declared an insolvent and furnishes
security, to the satisfaction of the Court, that he will within one month so apply, and that he will appear,
when called upon, in any proceeding upon the application or upon the decree in execution of which he was
arrested, the Court may release him from arrest, and, if he fails so to apply and to appear, the Court may
either direct the security to be realized or commit him to the civil prison in execution of the decree.
56. Prohibition of arrest or detention of women in execution of decree for money
Notwithstanding anything in this Part, the Court shall not order the arrest or detention in the civil
prison of a woman in execution of a decree for the payment of money.
57. Subsistence-allowance
The State Government may fix scales, graduated according to rank, race, and nationality, of monthly
allowances payable for the subsistence of judgment-debtors.
58. Detention and release
(1) Every person detained in the civil prison in execution of a decree shall be so detained,—
(1)(a) where the decree is for the payment of a sum of money exceeding five thousand rupees, for a period not
exceeding three months, and,
(1)(b) where the decree is for the payment of a sum of money exceeding two thousand rupees, but not exceeding
five thousand rupees, for a period not exceeding six weeks.
(1A) For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that no order for detention of the judgment-debtor in
civil prison in execution of a decree for the payment of money shall be made, where the total amount of the
decree does not exceed two thousand rupees.
(2) A judgment-debtor released from detention under this section shall not merely by reason of his release be
discharged from his debt, but he shall not be liable to be re-arrested under the decree in execution of which
he was detained in the civil prison.
59. Release on ground of illness
(1) At any time after a warrant for the arrest of a judgment-debtor has been issued, the Court may cancel
it on the ground of his serious illness.
(2) Where a judgment-debtor has been arrested, the Court may release him if, in its opinion, he is not in a
fit state of health to be detained in the civil prison.
(3) Where a judgment-debtor has been committed to the civil prison, he may be released therefrom—
(3)(a) by the State Government, on the ground of the existence of any infectious or contagious disease,
or
(3)(b) by the committing Court, or any Court to which that Court is subordinate, on the ground of his
suffering from any serious illness.
(4) A judgment-debtor released under this section may be re-arrested, but the period of his detention in civil
prison shall not in the aggregate exceed that prescribed by section 58.
60. Property liable to attachment and sale in execution of decree
(1) The following property is liable to attachment and sale in execution of a decree, namely, lands, houses
or other buildings, goods, money, bank-notes, cheques, bills of exchange, hundis, promissory notes, Government
securities, bonds or other securities for money, debts, shares in a corporation and, save as hereinafter
mentioned, all other saleable property, movable or immovable, belonging to the judgment-debtor, or over which,
or the profits of which, he has a disposing power which he may exercise for his own benefit, whether the same
be held in the name of the judgment-debtor or by another person in trust for him or on his behalf.
Provided that the following particulars shall not be liable to such attachment or sale, namely:
(a) the necessary wearing-apparel, cooking vessels, beds and bedding of the judgment-debtor, his wife and
children, and such personal ornaments as, in accordance with religious usage, cannot be parted with by any
woman;
(b) tools of artisans, and, where the judgment-debtor is an agriculturist, his implements of husbandry and
such cattle and seed-grain as may, in the opinion of the Court, be necessary to enable him to earn his
livelihood as such, and such portion of agricultural produce or of any class of agricultural produce as may
have been declared to be free from liability under the provisions of the next following section;
(c) houses and other buildings (with the materials and the sites thereof and the land immediately appurtenant
thereto and necessary for their enjoyment) belonging to an agriculturist or a labourer or a domestic servant
and occupied by him;
(d) books of account;
(e) a mere right to sue for damages;
(f) any right of personal service;
(g) stipends and gratuities allowed to pensioners of the Government or of a local authority or of any other
employer, or payable out of any service family pension fund notified in the Official Gazette by the Central
Government or the State Government in this behalf, and political pensions;
(h) the wages of labourers and domestic servants, whether payable in money or in kind;
(i) salary to the extent of the first one thousand rupees and two third of the remainder in execution of any
decree other than a decree for maintenance;
(ia) one-third of the salary in execution of any decree for maintenance;
(j) the pay and allowances of persons to whom the Air Force Act, 1950, the Army Act, 1950, or the Navy Act,
1957, applies;
(k) all compulsory deposits and other sums in or derived from any fund to which the Provident Funds Act, 1925,
applies;
(ka) all deposits and other sums in or derived from any fund to which the Public Provident Fund Act, 1968,
applies;
(kb) all moneys payable under a policy of insurance on the life of the judgment-debtor;
(kc) the interest of a lessee of a residential building to which the provisions of law for the time being in
force relating to control of rents and accommodation apply;
(l) any allowance forming part of the emoluments of any servant of the Government or of any servant of a
railway company or local authority which the appropriate Government may by notification in the Official
Gazette declare to be exempt from attachment, and any subsistence grant or allowance made to any such servant
while under suspension;
(m) an expectancy of succession by survivorship or other merely contingent or possible right or
interest;
(n) a right to future maintenance;
(o) any allowance declared by any Indian law to be exempt from liability to attachment or sale in execution of
a decree;
(p) where the judgment-debtor is a person liable for the payment of land-revenue; any movable property which,
under any law for the time being applicable to him, is exempt from sale for the recovery of an arrear of such
revenue.
State Amendment - Kerala
In clause (g) of the Proviso to sub-section (1) of section 60, after the words 'stipends and gratuities
allowed to pensioners of the Government,' the words 'or of a local authority' shall be inserted.
[Vide Kerala Act 13 of 1957, s. 3]
State Amendment - Himachal Pradesh
In section 60, sub-section (1):
(i) at the end of clause (c), add the following: 'or compensation paid for such houses and buildings
(including compensation for the materials and the sites and the land referred to above) acquired for a public
purpose.'
(ii) After clause (c), the following clause shall be inserted, namely: '(cc) compensation paid for
agricultural lands belonging to agriculturists and acquired for a public purpose.'
[Vide Himachal Pradesh Act 6 of 1956, sec. 2]
State Amendment - Tamil Nadu
In clause (g) of the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 60, after the words 'stipends and gratuities
allowed to pensioners of the Government,' the words 'or of a local authority' shall be inserted.
[Vide Tamil Nadu Act XXXIV of 1950, s. 2]
State Amendment - Rajasthan
In clause (b) of the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 60, after the word 'agriculturist,' the words 'his
milch cattle and those likely to calve within two years' shall be inserted.
[Vide Rajasthan Act 19 of 1958, s. 2]
In the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 60:
(i) After clause (k), the following clause shall be inserted, namely: '(kk) moneys payable under Life
Insurance Certificates issued in pursuance of the Rajasthan Government Servants Insurance Rules, 1953;'
(ii) After Explanation III, the following explanation shall be inserted: 'Explanation IV.- Where any money
payable to a Government servant of the State is exempt from attachment under the provision contained in clause
(kk), such money shall remain exempt from attachment notwithstanding the fact that owing to the death of a
Government servant it is payable to some other person.'
[Vide Rajasthan Act 16 of 1957, s. 2]
State Amendment - Uttar Pradesh
After Explanation I of sub-section (1) of section 60, insert the following Explanation (I-A):
'Explanation (I-A) — Particulars mentioned in clause (c) are exempt from sale in execution of a decree whether
passed before or after the commencement of the Code of Civil Procedure (United Provinces Amendment) Act, 1908,
for enforcement of a mortgage or charge thereon.'
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act XXXV of 1948, s. 2]
61. Partial exemption of agricultural produce
The State Government may, by general or special order published in the Official Gazette, declare that such
portion of agricultural produce, or of any class of agricultural produce, as may appear to the State
Government to be necessary for the purpose of providing until the next harvest for the due cultivation of the
land and for the support of the judgment-debtor and his family, shall, in the case of all agriculturists or of
any class of agriculturists, be exempted from liability to attachment or sale in execution of a decree.
62. Seizure of property in dwelling-house
(1) No person executing any process under this Code directing or authorizing seizure of movable property
shall enter any dwelling-house after sunset and before sunrise.
(2) No outer door of a dwelling-house shall be broken open unless such dwelling-house is in the occupancy of
the judgment-debtor and he refuses or in any way prevents access thereto, but when the person executing any
such process has duly gained access to any dwelling-house, he may break open the door of any room in which he
has reason to believe any such property to be.
(3) Where a room in a dwelling-house is in the actual occupancy of a woman who, according to the customs of
the country, does not appear in public, the person executing the process shall give notice to such woman that
she is at liberty to withdraw; and, after allowing reasonable time for her to withdraw and giving her
reasonable facility for withdrawing, he may enter such room for the purpose of seizing the property, using at
the same time every precaution, consistent with these provisions, to prevent its clandestine removal.
63. Property attached in execution of decrees of several Courts
(1) Where property not in the custody of any Court is under attachment in execution of decrees of more
Courts than one, the Court which shall receive or realize such property and shall determine any claim thereto
and any objection to the attachment thereof shall be the Court of highest grade, or, where there is no
difference in grade between such Courts, the Court under whose decree the property was first attached.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to invalidate any proceeding taken by a Court executing one of
such decrees.
Explanation.—For the purposes of sub-section (2), 'proceeding taken by a Court' does not include an order
allowing, to a decree-holder who has purchased property at a sale held in execution of a decree, set off to
the extent of the purchase price payable by him.
64. Private alienation of property after attachment to be void
(1) Where an attachment has been made, any private transfer or delivery of the property attached or of any
interest therein and any payment to the judgment-debtor of any debt, dividend or other monies contrary to such
attachment, shall be void as against all claims enforceable under the attachment.
(2) Nothing in this section shall apply to any private transfer or delivery of the property attached or of any
interest therein, made in pursuance of any contract for such transfer or delivery entered into and registered
before the attachment.
Explanation.—For the purpose of this section, claims enforceable under an attachment include claims for the
rateable distribution of assets.
65. Purchaser’s title
Where immovable property is sold in execution of a decree and such sale has become absolute, the property
shall be deemed to have vested in the purchaser from the time when the property is sold and not from the time
when the sale becomes absolute.
66. [Suit purchase being on behalf of plaintiff]
This section has been repealed by Act, 1988 (45 of 1988), s. 7 (w.e.f. 19-5-1988).
67. Power for State Government to make rules as to sales of land in execution of decrees for payment of
money
(1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for any local area
imposing conditions in respect of the sale of any class of interests in land in execution of decrees for the
payment of money, where such interests are so uncertain or undetermined as, in the opinion of the State
Government, to make it impossible to fix their value.
(2) When on the date on which this Code came into operation in any local area, any special rules as to sale of
land in execution of decrees were in force therein, the State Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette declare such rules to be in force, or may by a like notification, modify the same. Every notification
issued in the exercise of the powers conferred by this sub-section shall set out the rules so continued or
modified.
(3) Every rule made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before the State
Legislature.
68. [Power to prescribe rules for transferring to collector execution of certain decrees]
This section has been repealed by the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1956 (66 of 1956), s. 7
(w.e.f. 1-1-1957).
69. [Provisions of Third Schedule to apply]
This section has been repealed by the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1956 (66 of 1956), s. 7
(w.e.f. 1-1-1957).
70. [Rules of Procedure]
This section has been repealed by the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1956 (66 of 1956), s. 7
(w.e.f. 1-1-1957).
71. [Jurisdiction of Civil Courts barred]
This section has been repealed by the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1956 (66 of 1956), s. 7
(w.e.f. 1-1-1957).
72. [Collector to be deemed to be acting judicially]
This section has been repealed by the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1956 (66 of 1956), s. 7
(w.e.f. 1-1-1957).
73. Proceeds of execution-sale to be rateably distributed among decree-holders
(1) Where assets are held by a Court and more persons than one have, before the receipt of such assets,
made application to the Court for the execution of decrees for the payment of money passed against the same
judgment-debtor and have not obtained satisfaction thereof, the assets, after deducting the costs of
realization, shall be rateably distributed among all such persons:
Provided as follows:
(a) where any property is sold subject to a mortgage or charge, the mortgagee or incumbrancer shall not be
entitled to share in any surplus arising from such sale;
(b) where any property liable to be sold in execution of a decree is subject to a mortgage or charge, the
Court may, with the consent of the mortgagee or incumbrancer, order that the property be sold free from the
mortgage or charge, giving to the mortgagee or incumbrancer the same interest in the proceeds of the sale as
he had in the property sold;
(c) where any immovable property is sold in execution of a decree ordering its sale for the discharge of an
incumbrance thereon, the proceeds of sale shall be applied—
First, in defraying the expenses of the sale;
Secondly, in discharging the amount due under the decree;
Thirdly, in discharging the interest and principal monies due on subsequent incumbrances (if any); and
Fourthly, rateably among the holders of decrees for the payment of money against the judgment-debtor, who
have, prior to the sale of the property, applied to the Court which passed the decree ordering such sale for
execution of such decrees, and have not obtained satisfaction thereof.
(2) Where all or any of the assets liable to be rateably distributed under this section are paid to a person
not entitled to receive the same, any person so entitled may sue such person to compel him to refund the
assets.
(3) Nothing in this section affects any right of the Government.
74. Resistance to execution
Where the Court is satisfied that the holder of a decree for the possession of immovable property or that
the purchaser of immovable property sold in execution of a decree has been resisted or obstructed in obtaining
possession of the property by the judgment-debtor or some person on his behalf and that such resistance or
obstruction was without any just cause, the Court may, at the instance of the decree-holder or purchaser,
order the judgment-debtor or such other person to be detained in the civil prison for a term which may extend
to thirty days and may further direct that the decree-holder or purchaser be put into possession of the
property.
PART IV SUITS IN PARTICULAR CASES SUITS BY OR AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OR PUBLIC OFFICERS IN THEIR OFFICIAL
CAPACITY
79. Suits by or against Government
In a suit by or against the Government, the authority to be named as plaintiff or defendant, as the case
may be, shall be—
(a) in the case of a suit by or against the Central Government, the Union of India; and
(b) in the case of a suit by or against a State Government, the State.
80. Notice
(1) Save as otherwise provided in sub-section (2), no suits shall be instituted against the Government
(including the Government of the State of Jammu and Kashmir) or against a public officer in respect of any act
purporting to be done by such public officer in his official capacity, until the expiration of two months next
after notice in writing has been delivered to, or left at the office of—
(1)(a) in the case of a suit against the Central Government, except where it relates to a railway, a Secretary
to that Government;
(1)(b) in the case of a suit against the Central Government where it relates to railway, the General Manager
of that railway;
(1)(bb) in the case of a suit against the Government of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Secretary to
that Government or any other officer authorized by that Government in this behalf;
(1)(c) in the case of a suit against any other State Government, a Secretary to that Government or the
Collector of the district.
(2) A suit to obtain an urgent or immediate relief against the Government (including the Government of the
State of Jammu and Kashmir) or any public officer in respect of any act purporting to be done by such public
officer in his official capacity, may be instituted, with the leave of the Court, without serving any notice
as required by sub-section (1); but the Court shall not grant relief in the suit, whether interim or
otherwise, except after giving to the Government or public officer, as the case may be, a reasonable
opportunity of showing cause in respect of the relief prayed for in the suit.
Provided that the Court shall, if it is satisfied, after hearing the parties, that no urgent or immediate
relief need be granted in the suit, return the plaint for presentation to it after complying with the
requirements of sub-section (1).
(3) No suit instituted against the Government or against a public officer in respect of any act purporting to
be done by such public officer in his official capacity shall be dismissed merely by reason of any error or
defect in the notice referred to in sub-section (1), if in such notice—
(3)(a) the name, description and the residence of the plaintiff had been so given as to enable the appropriate
authority or the public officer to identify the person serving the notice and such notice had been delivered
or left at the office of the appropriate authority specified in sub-section (1), and
(3)(b) the cause of action and the relief claimed by the plaintiff had been substantially indicated.
81. Exemption from arrest and personal appearance
In a suit instituted against a public officer in respect of any act purporting to be done by him in his
official capacity—
(a) the defendant shall not be liable to arrest nor his property to attachment otherwise than in execution of
a decree, and,
(b) where the Court is satisfied that the defendant cannot absent himself from his duty without detriment to
the public service, it shall exempt him from appearing in person.
82. Execution of decree
(1) Where, in a suit by or against the Government or by or against a public officer in respect of any act
purporting to be done by him in his official capacity, a decree is passed against the Union of India or a
State or, as the case may be, the public officer, such decree shall not be executed except in accordance with
the provisions of sub-section (2).
(2) Execution shall not be issued on any such decree unless it remains unsatisfied for the period of three
months computed from the date of such decree.
(3) The provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) shall apply in relation to an order or award as they apply in
relation to a decree, if the order or award—
(3)(a) is passed or made against the Union of India or a State or a public officer in respect of any such act
as aforesaid, whether by a Court or by any other authority; and
(3)(b) is capable of being executed under the provisions of this Code or of any other law for the time being
in force as if it were a decree.
83. When aliens may sue
Alien enemies residing in India with the permission of the Central Government, and alien friends, may sue
in any Court otherwise competent to try the suit, as if they were citizens of India, but alien enemies
residing in India without such permission, or residing in a foreign country, shall not sue in any such
Court.
Explanation: Every person residing in a foreign country, the Government of which is at war with India and
carrying on business in that country without a licence in that behalf granted by the Central Government,
shall, for the purpose of this section, be deemed to be an alien enemy residing in a foreign country.
84. When foreign States may sue
A foreign State may sue in any competent Court:
Provided that the object of the suit is to enforce a private right vested in the Ruler of such State or in any
officer of such State in his public capacity.
85. Persons specially appointed by Government to prosecute or defend on behalf of foreign Rulers
(1) The Central Government may, at the request of the Ruler of a foreign State or at the request of any
person competent in the opinion of the Central Government to act on behalf of such Ruler, by order, appoint
any persons to prosecute or defend any suit on behalf of such Ruler, and any persons so appointed shall be
deemed to be the recognized agents by whom appearances, acts, and applications under this Code may be made or
done on behalf of such Ruler.
(2) An appointment under this section may be made for the purpose of a specified suit or of several specified
suits, or for the purpose of all such suits as it may from time to time be necessary to prosecute or defend on
behalf of such Ruler.
(3) A person appointed under this section may authorize or appoint any other persons to make appearances and
applications and do acts in any such suit or suits as if he were himself a party thereto.
86. Suits against foreign Rulers, Ambassadors, and Envoys
(1) No foreign State may be sued in any Court otherwise competent to try the suit except with the consent
of the Central Government certified in writing by a Secretary to that Government:
Provided that a person may, as a tenant of immovable property, sue without such consent a foreign State from
whom he holds or claims to hold the property.
(2) Such consent may be given with respect to a specified suit or to several specified suits or with respect
to all suits of any specified class or classes, and may specify, in the case of any suit or class of suits,
the Court in which the foreign State may be sued, but it shall not be given, unless it appears to the Central
Government that the foreign State—
(2)(a) has instituted a suit in the Court against the person desiring to sue it, or
(2)(b) by itself or another, trades within the local limits of the jurisdiction of the Court, or
(2)(c) is in possession of immovable property situate within those limits and is to be sued with reference to
such property or for money charged thereon, or
(2)(d) has expressly or impliedly waived the privilege accorded to it by this section.
(3) Except with the consent of the Central Government, certified in writing by a Secretary to that Government,
no decree shall be executed against the property of any foreign State.
(4) The preceding provisions of this section shall apply in relation to—
(4)(a) any ruler of a foreign State;
(4)(aa) any Ambassador or Envoy of a foreign State;
(4)(b) any High Commissioner of a Commonwealth country; and
(4)(c) any such member of the staff of the foreign State or the staff or retinue of the Ambassador or Envoy of
a foreign State or of the High Commissioner of a Commonwealth country as the Central Government may, by
general or special order, specify in this behalf,
as they apply in relation to a foreign State.
(5) The following persons shall not be arrested under this Code, namely: —
(5)(a) any Ruler of a foreign State;
(5)(b) any Ambassador or Envoy of a foreign State;
(5)(c) any High Commissioner of a Commonwealth country;
(5)(d) any such member of the staff of the foreign State or the staff or retinue of the Ruler, Ambassador, or
Envoy of a foreign State or of the High Commissioner of a Commonwealth country, as the Central Government may,
by general or special order, specify in this behalf.
(6) Where a request is made to the Central Government for the grant of any consent referred to in subsection
(1), the Central Government shall, before refusing to accede to the request in whole or in part, give to the
person making the request a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
87. Style of foreign Rulers as parties to suits
The Ruler of a foreign State may sue, and shall be sued, in the name of his State:
Provided that in giving the consent referred to in section 86, the Central Government may direct that the
Ruler may be sued in the name of an agent or in any other name.
87A. Definitions of 'Foreign State' and 'Rulers'
(1) In this Part,—
(1)(a) 'foreign State' means any State outside India which has been recognised by the Central Government;
and
(1)(b) 'Ruler', in relation to a foreign State, means the person who is for the time being recognized by the
Central Government to be the head of that State.
(2) Every Court shall take judicial notice of the fact—
(2)(a) that a State has or has not been recognized by the Central Government;
(2)(b) that a person has or has not been recognized by the Central Government to be the head of a State.
87B. Applications of sections 85 and 86 to Rulers of former Indian States
(1) In the case of any suit by or against the Ruler of any former Indian State which is based wholly or in
part upon a cause of action which arose before the commencement of the Constitution or any proceeding arising
out of such suit, the provisions of section 85 and sub-sections (1) and (3) of section 86 shall apply in
relation to such Ruler as they apply in relation to the Ruler of a foreign State.
(2) In this section—
(2)(a) 'former Indian State' means any such Indian State as the Central Government may, by notification in the
Official Gazette, specify for the purposes of this section;
(2)(b) 'Commencement of the Constitution' means the 26th day of January, 1950; and
(2)(c) 'Ruler', in relation to a former Indian State, has the same meaning as in Article 363 of the
Constitution.
88. Where interpleader suit may be instituted
Where two or more persons claim adversely to one another the same debts, sum of money or other property,
movable or immovable, from another person, who claims no interest therein other than for charges or costs and
who is ready to pay or deliver it to the rightful claimant, such other person may institute a suit of
interpleader against all the claimants for the purpose of obtaining a decision as to the person to whom the
payment or delivery shall be made and of obtaining indemnity for himself.
Provided that where any suit is pending in which the rights of all parties can properly be decided, no such
suit of interpleader shall be instituted.
PART VII: APPEALS
96. Appeal from original decree
(1) Save where otherwise expressly provided in the body of this Code or by any other law for the time being
in force, an appeal shall lie from every decree passed by any Court exercising original jurisdiction to the
Court authorized to hear appeals from the decisions of such Court.
(2) An appeal may lie from an original decree passed ex parte.
(3) No appeal shall lie from a decree passed by the Court with the consent of parties.
(4) No appeal shall lie, except on a question of law, from a decree in any suit of the nature cognizable by
Courts of Small Causes, when the amount or value of the subject-matter of the original suit does not exceed
ten thousand rupees.
97. Appeal from final decree where no appeal from preliminary decree
Where any party aggrieved by a preliminary decree passed after the commencement of this Code does not
appeal from such decree, he shall be precluded from disputing its correctness in any appeal which may be
preferred from the final decree.
98. Decision where appeal heard by two or more Judges
(1) Where an appeal is heard by a Bench of two or more Judges, the appeal shall be decided in accordance
with the opinion of such Judges or of the majority (if any) of such Judges.
(2) Where there is no such majority which concurs in a judgment varying or reversing the decree appealed from,
such decree shall be confirmed:
Provided that where the Bench hearing the appeal is composed of two or another even number of Judges belonging
to a Court consisting of more Judges than those constituting the Bench, and the Judges composing the Bench
differ in opinion on a point of law, they may state the point of law upon which they differ and the appeal
shall then be heard upon that point only by one or more of the other Judges, and such point shall be decided
according to the opinion of the majority (if any) of the Judges who have heard the appeal, including those who
first heard it.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to alter or otherwise affect any provision of the letters patent
of any High Court.
99. No decree to be reversed or modified for error or irregularity not affecting merits or jurisdiction
No decree shall be reversed or substantially varied, nor shall any case be remanded, in appeal on account
of any misjoinder or non-joinder of parties or causes of action or any error, defect, or irregularity in any
proceedings in the suit, not affecting the merits of the case or the jurisdiction of the Court.
Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to non-joinder of a necessary party.
99A. No order under section 47 to be reversed or modified unless decision of the case is prejudicially
affected
Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of section 99, no order under section 47 shall be
reversed or substantially varied, on account of any error, defect, or irregularity in any proceeding relating
to such order, unless such error, defect, or irregularity has prejudicially affected the decision of the case.
100. Second appeal
(1) Save as otherwise expressly provided in the body of this Code or by any other law for the time being in
force, an appeal shall lie to the High Court from every decree passed in appeal by any Court subordinate to
the High Court, if the High Court is satisfied that the case involves a substantial question of law.
(2) An appeal may lie under this section from an appellate decree passed ex parte.
(3) In an appeal under this section, the memorandum of appeal shall precisely state the substantial question
of law involved in the appeal.
(4) Where the High Court is satisfied that a substantial question of law is involved in any case, it shall
formulate that question.
(5) The appeal shall be heard on the question so formulated and the respondent shall, at the hearing of the
appeal, be allowed to argue that the case does not involve such question:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall be deemed to take away or abridge the power of the Court to
hear, for reasons to be recorded, the appeal on any other substantial question of law, not formulated by it,
if it is satisfied that the case involves such question.
STATE AMENDMENT
Kerala
In sub-section (1) of section 100 of the Principal Act, after clause (c), the following clause shall be added,
namely:
(d) the finding of the lower appellate court on any question of fact material to the right decision of the
case on the merits being in conflict with the finding of the Court of first instance on such question.
[Vide Kerala Act 13 of 1957 sec. 4.]
100A. No further appeal in certain cases
Notwithstanding anything contained in any Letters Patent for any High Court or in any instrument having the
force of law or in any other law for the time being in force, where any appeal from an original or appellate
decree or order is heard and decided by a Single Judge of a High Court, no further appeal shall lie from the
judgment and decree of such Single Judge.
101. Second appeal on no other grounds
No second appeal shall lie except on the ground mentioned in section 100.
102. No second appeal in certain cases
No second appeal shall lie from any decree, when the subject matter of the original suit is for recovery of
money not exceeding twenty-five thousand rupees.
103. Power of High Court to determine issue of fact
In any second appeal, the High Court may, if the evidence on the record is sufficient, determine any issue
necessary for the disposal of the appeal,—
(a) which has not been determined by the lower Appellate Court or both by the Court of first instance and the
lower Appellate Court, or
(b) which has been wrongly determined by such Court or Courts by reason of a decision on such question of law
as is referred to in section 100.
104. Orders from which appeal lies
(1) An appeal shall lie from the following orders, and save as otherwise expressly provided in the body of
this Code or by any law for the time being in force, from no other orders:
[(ff) an order under section 35A;]
[(ffa) an order under section 91 or section 92 refusing leave to institute a suit of the nature referred to in
section 91 or section 92, as the case may be;]
(g) an order under section 95;
(h) an order under any of the provisions of this Code imposing a fine or directing the arrest or detention in
the civil prison of any person except where such arrest or detention is in execution of a decree;
(i) any order made under rules from which an appeal is expressly allowed by rules.
[Provided that no appeal shall lie against any order specified in clause (ff) save on the ground that no
order, or an order for the payment of a less amount, ought to have been made.]
(2) No appeal shall lie from any order passed in appeal under this section.
105. Other orders
(1) Save as otherwise expressly provided, no appeal shall lie from any order made by a Court in the
exercise of its original or appellate jurisdiction; but where a decree is appealed from, any error, defect or
irregularity in any order, affecting the decision of the case, may be set forth as a ground of objection in
the memorandum of appeal.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where any party aggrieved by an order of remand
from which an appeal lies does not appeal therefrom, he shall thereafter be precluded from disputing its
correctness.
106. What Courts to hear appeals
Where an appeal from any order is allowed, it shall lie to the Court to which an appeal would lie from the
decree in the suit in which such order was made, or where such order is made by a Court (not being a High
Court) in the exercise of appellate jurisdiction, then to the High Court.
107. Powers of Appellate Court
(1) Subject to such conditions and limitations as may be prescribed, an Appellate Court shall have
power—
(1)(a) to determine a case finally;
(1)(b) to remand a case;
(1)(c) to frame issues and refer them for trial;
(1)(d) to take additional evidence or to require such evidence to be taken.
(2) Subject as aforesaid, the Appellate Court shall have the same powers and shall perform as nearly as may be
the same duties as are conferred and imposed by this Code on Courts of original jurisdiction in respect of
suits instituted therein.
108. Procedure in appeals from appellate decrees and orders
The provisions of this Part relating to appeals from original decrees shall, so far as may be, apply to
appeals—
(a) from appellate decrees, and
(b) from orders made under this Code or under any special or local law in which a different procedure is not
provided.
109. When appeals lie to the Supreme Court
Subject to the provisions in Chapter IV of Part V of the Constitution and such rules as may, from time to
time, be made by the Supreme Court regarding appeals from the Courts of India, and to the provisions
hereinafter contained, an appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court from any judgment, decree or final order in a
civil proceeding of a High Court, if the High Court certifies—
(i) that the case involves a substantial question of law of general importance; and
(ii) that in the opinion of the High Court the said question needs to be decided by the Supreme Court.
110. [Value of subject matters]
Omitted by the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1973 (49 of 1973), s. 3 (w.e.f. 29-11-1973).
111. [Bar of certain appeals]
Omitted by the A.O. 1950.
111A. [Appeals to Federal Court]
Repealed by the Federal Court Act, 1941 (21 of 1941), s. 2 (w.e.f. 1-9-1942).
112. Savings
(1) Nothing contained in this Code shall be deemed—
(1)(a) to affect the powers of the Supreme Court under article 136 or any other provision of the Constitution;
or
(1)(b) to interfere with any rules made by the Supreme Court, and for the time being in force for the
presentation of appeals to that Court, or their conduct before that Court.
(2) Nothing herein contained applies to any matter of criminal or admiralty or vice-admiralty jurisdiction or
to appeals from orders and decrees of Prize Courts.
PART VIII: REFERENCE, REVIEW AND REVISION
113. Reference to High Court
Subject to such conditions and limitations as may be prescribed, any Court may state a case and refer the
same for the opinion of the High Court, and the High Court may make such order thereon as it thinks fit.
Provided that where the Court is satisfied that a case pending before it involves a question as to the
validity of any Act, Ordinance, or Regulation or of any provision contained in an Act, Ordinance, or
Regulation, the determination of which is necessary for the disposal of the case, and is of opinion that such
Act, Ordinance, Regulation, or provision is invalid or inoperative, but has not been so declared by the High
Court to which that Court is subordinate or by the Supreme Court, the Court shall state a case setting out its
opinion and the reasons therefor, and refer the same for the opinion of the High Court.
Explanation: In this section, 'Regulation' means any Regulation of the Bengal, Bombay or Madras Code or
Regulation as defined in the General Clauses Act, 1897 (10 of 1897) or in the General Clauses Act of a State.
114. Review
Subject as aforesaid, any person considering himself aggrieved—
(a) by a decree or order from which an appeal is allowed by this Code, but from which no appeal has been
preferred.
(b) by a decree or order from which no appeal is allowed by this Code, or
(c) by a decision on a reference from a Court of Small Causes,
may apply for a review of judgment to the Court which passed the decree or made the order, and the Court may
make such order thereon as it thinks fit.
115. Revision
(1) The High Court may call for the record of any case which has been decided by any Court subordinate to
such High Court and in which no appeal lies thereto, and if such subordinate Court appears—
(1)(a) to have exercised a jurisdiction not vested in it by law, or
(1)(b) to have failed to exercise a jurisdiction so vested, or
(1)(c) to have acted in the exercise of its jurisdiction illegally or with material irregularity,
the High Court may make such order in the case as it thinks fit.
Provided that the High Court shall not, under this section, vary or reverse any order made, or any order
deciding an issue, in the course of a suit or other proceeding, except where the order, if it had been made in
favour of the party applying for revision, would have finally disposed of the suit or other proceedings.
(2) The High Court shall not, under this section, vary or reverse any decree or order against which an appeal
lies either to the High Court or to any Court subordinate thereto.
(3) A revision shall not operate as a stay of suit or other proceeding before the Court except where such suit
or other proceeding is stayed by the High Court.
Explanation: In this section, the expression 'any case which has been decided' includes any order made, or any
order deciding an issue in the course of a suit or other proceeding.
STATE AMENDMENTS
Orrisa
Amendment of section 115.—In the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) for section 115, the following
section shall be substituted, namely:—
115. Revision
The High Court, in cases arising out of original suits or other proceedings of the value exceeding one lakh
rupees, and the District Court, in any other case including a case arising out of an original suit or other
proceedings instituted before the commencement of the Code of Civil Procedure (Orissa Amendment) Act, 1991,
may call for the record of any case which has been decided by any Court subordinate to the High Court or the
District Court, as the case may be, and in which no appeal lies thereto, and if such subordinate Court
appears—
(a) to have exercised a jurisdiction not vested in it by law; or
(b) to have failed to exercise a jurisdiction so vested; or
(c) to have acted in the exercise of its jurisdiction illegally or with material irregularity;
the High Court or the District Court, as the case may be, may make such order in the case as it thinks
fit.
Provided that in respect of cases arising out of original suits, or other proceedings of any valuation decided
by the District Court, the High Court alone shall be competent to make an order under this section.
Provided further that the High Court or the District Court shall not, under this section, vary or reverse any
order, including an order deciding an issue, made in the course of a suit or other proceedings, except
where—
(i) the order, if so varied or reversed, would finally dispose of the suit or other proceedings; or
(ii) the order, if allowed to stand, would occasion a failure of justice or cause irreparable injury to the
party against whom it was made.
Explanation: In this section, the expression 'any case which has been decided' includes any order deciding an
issue in the course of a suit or other proceeding.
Orissa Amendment (2010) - Section 115
The High Court, in cases arising out of original suits or other proceedings of the value exceeding five
lakhs rupees and the District Court, in any other cases, including a case arising out of an original suit or
other proceedings instituted before the commencement of the Code of Civil Procedure (Orissa Amendment) Act,
2010, may call for the record of any case which has been decided by any Court subordinate to the High Court or
the District Court, as the case may be, and in which no appeal lies thereto, and if such subordinate Court
appears—
(a) to have exercised a jurisdiction not vested in it by law; or
(b) to have failed to exercise a jurisdiction so vested; or
(c) to have acted in the exercise of its jurisdiction illegally or with material irregularity.
The High Court or the District Court, as the case may be, may make such order in the case as it thinks
fit.
Provided that in respect of cases arising out of original suits or other proceedings of any valuation decided
by the District Court, the High Court alone shall be competent to make an order under this section.
(2) The High Court or the District Court, as the case may be, shall not under this section, vary or reverse
any order, including an order deciding an issue, made in the course of a suit or other proceedings, except
where the order, if it had been made in favor of the party applying for revision, would have finally disposed
of the suit or other proceedings.
(3) A revision shall not operate as a stay of suit or other proceeding before the Court except where such suit
or other proceeding is stayed by the High Court or District Court, as the case may be.
Explanation: In this section, the expression, 'any case which has been decided' includes any order deciding an
issue in the course of a suit or other proceeding.
Uttar Pradesh Amendment (1970) - Section 115
Amendment of section 115 of Act V of 1908: In section 115 of the said Code—
(i) For the words 'High Court', wherever occurring, the words 'High Court or District Court' shall be
substituted; and
(ii) The following proviso shall be inserted at the end: 'Provided that nothing in this section shall be
construed to empower the District Court to call for the record of any case arising out of an original suit of
the value of twenty thousand rupees or above.'
Uttar Pradesh Amendment (1973) - Section 115
The High Court in cases arising out of original suits of the value of rupees twenty thousand and above,
including such suits instituted before the 20th day of September, 1972, and the District Court in any other
case, including a case arising out of an original suit instituted before the 20th day of September, 1972, may
call for the record of any case which has been decided by any court subordinate to such High Court or District
Court, as the case may be, and in which no appeal lies thereto, and if such subordinate court appears—
(a) to have exercised a jurisdiction not vested in it by law; or
(b) to have failed to exercise a jurisdiction so vested; or
(c) to have acted in the exercise of its jurisdiction illegally or with material irregularity.
The High Court or the District Court, as the case may be, may make such order in the case as it thinks
fit.
Provided that in respect of cases decided before the 20th day of September, 1972, and also all cases arising
out of original suits of any valuation decided by the District Court, the High Court alone shall be competent
to make an order under this section.
Uttar Pradesh Amendment (1972) - Section 115
Amendment of section 115 of Act V of 1908: In section 115 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 as amended
in its application to Uttar Pradesh, hereinafter referred to as the said Code:
(i) For the words 'the High Court or District Court', where they first occur, the words 'the High Court in
cases arising out of original suits of the values of twenty thousand rupees and above, and the District Court
in any other case' shall be substituted, and after the words 'High Court or District Court' where they occur
the second time, the commas and words, 'as the case may be', shall be inserted.
(ii) The proviso shall be omitted.
Uttar Pradesh Amendment (1978) - Section 115
Substitution of section 115: For section 115 of the said Code, the following section shall be substituted,
namely:
'115. Revision.— The High Court, in cases arising out of original suits or other proceedings of the value of
twenty thousand rupees and above, including such suits or other proceedings instituted before August 1, 1978,
and the District Court in any other case, including a case arising out of an original suit or other
proceedings instituted before such date, may call for the record of any case which has been decided by any
court subordinate to such High Court or District Court, as the case may be, and in which no appeal lies
thereto, and if such subordinate court appears —'
(a) To have exercised a jurisdiction not vested in it by law; or
(b) To have failed to exercise a jurisdiction so vested; or
(c) To have acted in the exercise of its jurisdiction illegally or with material irregularity;
The High Court or the District Court, as the case may be, may make such order in the case as it thinks
fit.
Provided that in respect of cases arising out of original suits or other proceedings of any valuation decided
by the District Court, the High Court alone shall be competent to make an order under this section.
Provided further that the High Court or the District Court shall not, under this section, vary or reverse any
order including an order deciding an issue, made in the course of a suit or other proceeding, except where
—
(i) The order, if so varied or reversed, would finally dispose of the suit or other proceeding; or
(ii) The order, if allowed to stand, would occasion a failure of justice or cause irreparable injury to the
party against whom it was made.
Explanation: In this section, the expression 'any case which has been decided' includes any order deciding an
issue in the course of a suit or other proceeding.
Uttar Pradesh Amendment (1991) - Section 115
Amendment of section 115 of Act No. 5 of 1908: In section 115 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908,
hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as the said Code:
(a) For the words 'of the value of twenty thousand rupees and above including such suits or other proceedings
instituted before August 1, 1978', the following words shall be substituted, namely —
'Of the value exceeding one lakh rupees or such higher amount not exceeding five lakh rupees as the High Court
may from time to time fix, by notification published in the Official Gazette, including such suits or other
proceedings instituted before the date of commencement of the Uttar Pradesh Civil Laws (Amendment) Act, 1991,
or as the case may be, the date of commencement of such notification.'
(b) After the second proviso, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:
'Provided also that where a proceeding of the nature in which the District Court may call for the record and
pass orders under this section was pending immediately before the relevant date of commencement referred to
above, in the High Court, such Court shall proceed to dispose of the same.'
Uttar Pradesh Amendment (2003) - Section 115
Substitution of section 115 of Act No. 5 of 1908: For section 115 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908,
hereinafter referred to as the principal Act, the following section shall be substituted and be deemed to have
been substituted with effect from July 1, 2002, namely:
'115. Revision (1) A superior court may revise an order passed in a case decided in an original suit or other
proceeding by a subordinate court where no appeal lies against the order and where the subordinate court has
—'
(1)(a) Exercised a jurisdiction not vested in it by law; or
(1)(b) Failed to exercise a jurisdiction so vested; or
(1)(c) Acted in exercise of its jurisdiction illegally or with material irregularity.
(2) A revision application under sub-section (1), when filed in the High Court, shall contain a certificate on
the first page of such application, below the title of the case, to the effect that no revision in the case
lies to the district court but lies only to the High Court either because of valuation or because the order
sought to be revised was passed by the district court.
(3) The superior court shall not, under this section, vary or reverse any order made except where —
(3)(i) The order, if it had been made in favour of the party applying for revision, would have finally
disposed of the suit or other proceeding; or
(3)(ii) The order, if allowed to stand, would occasion a failure of justice or cause irreparable injury to the
party against whom it is made.
(4) A revision shall not operate as a stay of suit or other proceeding before the court except where such suit
or other proceeding is stayed by the superior court.
Explanation — I In this section —
(i) The expression ‘superior court’ means —
(i)(a) The district court, where the valuation of a case decided by a court subordinate to it does not exceed
five lakh rupees;
(i)(b) The High Court, where the order sought to be revised was passed in a case decided by the district court
or where the value of the original suit or other proceedings in a case decided by a court subordinate to the
district court exceeds five lakh rupees;
(ii) The expression ‘order’ includes an order deciding an issue in any original suit or other
proceedings.
Explanation — II The provisions of this section shall also be applicable to orders passed, before or after the
commencement of this section, in original suits or other proceedings instituted before such commencement.
PART X: RULES
121. Effect of rules in First Schedule
The rules in the First Schedule shall have effect as if enacted in the body of this Code until annulled or
altered in accordance with the provisions of this Part.
122. Power of certain High Courts to make rules
High Courts [not being the Court of a Judicial Commissioner] may, from time to time after previous
publication, make rules regulating their own procedure and the procedure of the Civil Courts subject to their
superintendence.
Such rules may annul, alter, or add to all or any of the rules in the First Schedule.
123. Constitution of Rules Committees in certain States
A Committee, to be called the Rule Committee, shall be constituted at the town which is the usual place of
sitting of each of the High Courts referred to in section 122.
Each such Committee shall consist of the following persons:
(a) Three Judges of the High Court, one of whom at least has served as a District Judge or a Divisional Judge
for three years.
(b) Two legal practitioners enrolled in that Court.
(c) A Judge of a Civil Court subordinate to the High Court.
The members of each Committee shall be appointed by the High Court, which shall also nominate one of their
number to be President.
Each member shall hold office for a prescribed period, and whenever any member retires, resigns, dies, or
becomes incapable of acting, the High Court may appoint another person in their place.
There shall be a secretary to each such Committee, appointed by the High Court, who shall receive remuneration
provided by the State Government.
STATE AMENDMENTS
Assam.—
For clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 123 the following shall be substituted—
“(a) three Judges of the High Court established at the town at which such Committee is constituted, provided
that the Chief Justice may appoint only two Judges of the High Court on the Committee if the number of Judges
of the High Court does not exceed three.” [Vide Assam Act 8 of 1953, sec. 2.]
Tamil Nadu
Amendment of section 123, Central Act V of 1908.
In section (2) of section 123 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 ( Central Act V of 1908),-
(a) in clause (b), for the words “two legal practitioners”, the words “three legal practitioners” shall be
substituted.
(b) in clause (d), the word “Madras” shall be omitted. [Vide Tamil Nadu Act 15 of 1970, s. 2]
124. Committee to report to High Court
Every Rule Committee shall make a report to the High Court established at the town at which it is
constituted on any proposal to annul, alter or add to the rules in the First Schedule or to make new
rules.
Before making any rules under section 122, the High Court shall take such a report into consideration.
125. Power of other High Courts to make rules
High Courts, other than the Courts specified in section 122, may exercise the powers conferred by that
section in such manner and subject to such conditions as the State Government may determine.
Provided that any such High Court may, after previous publication, make a rule extending within the local
limits of its jurisdiction any rules which have been made by any other High Court.
126. Rules to be subject to approval
Rules made under the foregoing provisions shall be subject to the previous approval of the Government of
the State in which the Court whose procedure the rules regulate is situated.
If the Court is not situated in any State, the rules shall be subject to the previous approval of the Central
Government.
127. Publication of rules
Rules so made and approved shall be published in the Official Gazette.
From the date of publication or from such other date as may be specified, they shall have the same force and
effect within the local limits of the jurisdiction of the High Court which made them, as if they had been
contained in the First Schedule.
128. Matters for which rules may provide
Such rules shall not be inconsistent with the provisions in the body of this Code but, subject thereto, may
provide for any matters relating to the procedure of Civil Courts.
In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred by sub-section (1), such rules
may provide for:
(a) The service of summonses, notices, and other processes by post or in any other manner either generally or
in specified areas, and the proof of such service.
(b) The maintenance and custody, while under attachment, of livestock and other movable property, the fees
payable for such maintenance and custody, the sale of such livestock and property, and the proceeds of such
sale.
(c) Procedure in suits by way of counterclaim, and the valuation of such suits for the purposes of
jurisdiction.
(d) Procedure in garnishee and charging orders either in addition to, or in substitution for, the attachment
and sale of debts.
(e) Procedure where the defendant claims to be entitled to contribution or indemnity over against any person
whether a party to the suit or not.
(f) Summary procedure in suits where the plaintiff seeks to recover a debt or liquidated demand in money
payable by the defendant, arising:
(f)(i) on a contract express or implied;
(f)(ii) on an enactment where the sum sought to be recovered is a fixed sum of money or in the nature of a
debt other than a penalty;
(f)(iii) on a guarantee, where the claim against the principal is in respect of a debt or a liquidated demand
only;
(f)(iv) on a trust;
(g) Procedure in suits for the recovery of immovable property, with or without a claim for rent or mesne
profits, by a landlord against a tenant whose term has expired or has been duly determined by notice to quit,
or has become liable to forfeiture for non-payment of rent, or against persons claiming under such
tenant.
(h) Procedure by way of originating summons.
(i) Consolidation of suits, appeals, and other proceedings.
(j) Delegation to any Registrar, Prothonotary, Master, or other official of the Court of any judicial,
quasi-judicial, and non-judicial duties.
(k) All forms, registers, books, entries, and accounts necessary or desirable for the transaction of the
business of Civil Courts.
129. Power of High Courts to make rules as to their original Civil procedure
Notwithstanding anything in this Code, any High Court (not being the Court of a Judicial Commissioner) may
make such rules, not inconsistent with the Letters Patent, order, or other law establishing it, to regulate
its own procedure in the exercise of its original civil jurisdiction as it shall think fit.
Nothing herein contained shall affect the validity of any such rules in force at the commencement of this
Code.
130. Powers of other High Courts to make rules as to matters other than procedure
A High Court (not being a High Court to which section 129 applies) may, with the previous approval of the
State Government, make rules with respect to any matter other than procedure.
Such a rule may be made by a High Court for a State under article 227 of the Constitution with respect to any
such matter for any part of the territories under its jurisdiction which is not included within the limits of
a presidency town.
131. Publication of rules
Rules made in accordance with section 129 or section 130 shall be published in the Official Gazette.
From the date of publication or from such other date as may be specified, such rules shall have the force of
law.
PART XI: MISCELLANEOUS
132. Exemption of certain women from personal appearance
Women who, according to the customs and manners of the country, ought not to be compelled to appear in
public shall be exempt from personal appearance in Court.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to exempt such women from arrest in execution of civil process in any
case in which the arrest of women is not prohibited by this Code.
133. Exemption of other persons
The following persons shall be entitled to exemption from personal appearance in Court:
(i) The President of India
(ii) The Vice-President of India
(iii) The Speaker of the House of the People
(iv) The Ministers of the Union
(v) The Judges of the Supreme Court
(vi) The Governors of States and the administrators of Union territories
(vii) The Speakers of the State Legislative Assemblies
(viii) The Chairman of the State Legislative Councils
(ix) The Ministers of States
(x) The Judges of the High Courts
(xi) The persons to whom section 87B applies.
Where any person claims the privilege of such exemption, and it is necessary to examine him by commission, he
shall pay the costs of that commission, unless the party requiring his evidence pays such costs.
134. Arrest other than in execution of decree
The provisions of sections 55, 57, and 59 shall apply, so far as may be, to all persons arrested under this
Code.
135. Exemption from arrest under civil process
No Judge, Magistrate, or other judicial officer shall be liable to arrest under civil process while going
to, presiding in, or returning from, his Court.
Where any matter is pending before a tribunal having jurisdiction therein, or believing in good faith that it
has such jurisdiction, the parties thereto, their pleaders, mukhtars, revenue-agents, recognized agents, and
their witnesses acting in obedience to a summons, shall be exempt from arrest under civil process other than
process issued by such tribunal for contempt of Court while going to or attending such tribunal for the
purpose of such matter, and while returning from such tribunal.
Nothing in sub-section (2) shall enable a judgment-debtor to claim exemption from arrest under an order for
immediate execution or where such judgment-debtor attends to show cause why he should not be committed to
prison in execution of a decree.
135A. Exemption of members of legislative bodies from arrest and detention under civil process
(1) No person shall be liable to arrest or detention in prison under civil process—
(1)(a) if he is a member of—
(1)(a)(i) either House of Parliament, or
(1)(a)(ii) the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council of a State, or
(1)(a)(iii) a Legislative Assembly of a Union territory,
during the continuance of any meeting of such House of Parliament or, as the case may be, of the Legislative
Assembly or the Legislative Council;
(1)(b) if he is a member of any committee of—
(1)(b)(i) either House of Parliament, or
(1)(b)(ii) the Legislative Assembly of a State or Union territory, or
(1)(b)(iii) the Legislative Council of a State,
during the continuance of any meeting of such committee;
(1)(c) if he is a member of—
(1)(c)(i) either House of Parliament, or
(1)(c)(ii) a Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council of a State having both such Houses,
during the continuance of a joint sitting, meeting, conference or joint committee of the Houses of Parliament
or, Houses of the State Legislature, as the case may be, and during the forty days before and after such
meeting, sitting or conference.
(2) A person released from detention under sub-section (1) shall, subject to the provisions of the said
sub-section, be liable to re-arrest and to the further detention to which he would have been liable if he had
not been released under the provisions of sub-section (1).
136. Procedure where person to be arrested or property to be attached is outside district
(1) Where an application is made that any person shall be arrested or that any property shall be attached
under any provision of this Code not relating to the execution of decrees, and such person resides or such
property is situate outside the local limits of the jurisdiction of the Court to which the application is
made, the Court may, in its discretion, issue a warrant of arrest or make an order of attachment, and send to
the District Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction such person or property resides or is situate
a copy of the warrant or order, together with the probable amount of the costs of the arrest or
attachment.
(2) The District Court shall, on receipt of such copy and amount, cause the arrest or attachment to be made by
its own officers, or by a Court subordinate to itself, and shall inform the Court which issued or made such
warrant or order of the arrest or attachment.
(3) The Court making an arrest under this section shall send the person arrested to the Court by which the
warrant of arrest was issued, unless he shows cause to the satisfaction of the former Court why he should not
be sent to the later Court, or unless he furnishes sufficient security for his appearance before the later
Court or for satisfying any decree that may be passed against him by that Court, in either of which cases the
Court making the arrest shall release him.
(4) Where a person to be arrested or movable property to be attached under this section is within the local
limits of the ordinary original civil jurisdiction of the High Court of Judicature at Fort William in Bengal
or at Madras or at Bombay, the copy of the warrant of arrest or of the order of attachment, and the probable
amount of the costs of the arrest or attachment, shall be sent to the Court of Small Causes of Calcutta,
Madras or Bombay, as the case may be, and that Court, on receipt of the copy and amount, shall proceed as if
it were the District Court.
137. Language of subordinate Courts
(1) The language which, on the commencement of this Code, is the language of any Court subordinate to a
High Court shall continue to be the language of such subordinate Court until the State Government otherwise
directs.
(2) The State Government may declare what shall be the language of any such Court and in what character
applications to and proceedings in such Courts shall be written.
(3) Where this Code requires or allows anything other than the recording of evidence to be done in writing in
any such Court, such writing may be in English; but if any party or his pleader is unacquainted with English a
translation into the language of the Court shall, at his request, be supplied to him; and the Court shall make
such order as it thinks fit in respect of the payment of the costs of such translation.
STATE AMENDMENT
Rajasthan
Amendment of section 137, Central Act V of 1908.-In section 137 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Central
Act V of 1908), in its application to the State of Rajasthan, for sub-section (3), the following sub-section
shall be substituted, namely:-
(3) Wherever this Code requires or allows anything other than the recording of evidence to be done in writing
in any such court, such writing shall be in Hindi in Devnagri Script with the international form of Indian
numerals :
Provided that the court may in its discretion accept such writing in English on the undertaking of the party
filing such writing, to file a Hindi translation of the same, within such time as may be granted by the court
and the opposite party shall have a right to have a copy of such writing in Hindi
[Vide Rajasthan Act 7 of 1983, s. 2]
138. Power of High Court to require evidence to be recorded in English
(1) The High Court may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct with respect to any Judge specified
in the notification, or falling under a description set forth therein, that evidence in cases in which an
appeal is allowed shall be taken down by him in the English language and in manner prescribed.
(2) Where a Judge is prevented by any sufficient reason from complying with a direction under sub-section (1),
he shall record the reason and cause the evidence to be taken down in writing from his dictation in open
Court.
139. Oath on affidavit by whom to be administered
In the case of any affidavit under this Code—
(a) any Court or Magistrate, or
(aa) any notary appointed under the Notaries Act, 1952 (53 of 1952); or
(b) any officer or other person whom a High Court may appoint in this behalf, or
(c) any officer appointed by any other Court which the State Government has generally or specially empowered
in this behalf, may administer the oath to the deponent.
STATE AMENDMENT
Uttar Pradesh
Amendment of section 139 of Act no. 5 of 1908.— In section 139 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, for
clauses (b) and (c), the following shall be substituted and be deemed always to have been substituted, namely
:—
“(b) any person appointed in this behalf by a High Court or by aDistrict Court ; or
(c) any person appointed in this behalf by such other Court as the State Government may, by general or special
order, empower in this behalf” ;
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 11 of 1981, s. 2]
140. Assessors in causes of salvage, etc.
(1) In any admiralty or vice-admiralty cause of salvage to wage or collision the Court, whether it be
exercising its original or its appellate jurisdiction, may, if it thinks fit, and shall upon request of either
party to such cause, summon to its assistance, in such manner as it may direct or as may be prescribed, two
competent assessors; and such assessors shall attend and assist accordingly.
(2) Every such assessor shall receive such fees for his attendance, to be paid by such of the parties as the
Court may direct or as may be prescribed.
141. Miscellaneous proceedings
The procedure provided in this Code in regard to suits shall be followed, as far as it can be made
applicable, in all proceedings in any Court of civil jurisdiction.
Explanation.— In this section, the expression “proceedings” includes proceedings under Order IX, but does not
include any proceedings under article 226 of the Constitution.
142. Orders and notices to be in writing
All orders and notices served on or given to any person under the provisions of this Code shall be in
writing.
143. Postage
Postage, where chargeable on a notice, summons or letter issued under this Code and forwarded by post, and
the fee for registering the same, shall be paid within a time to be fixed before the communication is
made:
Provided that the State Government may remit such postage, or fee, or both, or may prescribe a scale of
court-fees to be levied in lieu thereof.
144. Application for restitution
(1) Where and in so far as a decree [or an order] is [varied or reversed in any appeal, revision or other
proceeding or is set aside or modified in any suit instituted for the purpose, the Court which passed the
decree or order] shall, on the application of any party entitled to any benefit by way of restitution or
otherwise, cause such restitution to be made as will, so far as may be, place the parties in the position
which they would have occupied but for such decree [or order] or [such part thereof as has been varied,
reversed, set aside or modified]; and for this purpose, the Court may make any orders, including orders for
the refund of costs and for the payment of interest, damages, compensation and mesne profits, which are
properly [consequential on such variation, reversal, setting aside or modification of the decree or
order].
Explanation.—For the purposes of sub-section (1), the expression 'Court which passed the decree or order'
shall be deemed to include,—
(a) where the decree or order has been varied or reversed in exercise of appellate or revisional jurisdiction,
the Court of first instance;
(b) where the decree or order has been set aside by a separate suit, the court of first instance which passed
such decree or order.
(c) where the Court of first instance has ceased to exist or has ceased to have jurisdiction to execute, it,
the Court which, if the suit wherein the decree or order was passed were instituted at the time of making the
application for restitution under this section, would have jurisdiction to try such suit.
(2) No suit shall be instituted for the purpose of obtaining any restitution or other relief which could be
obtained by application under sub-section (1).
145. Enforcement of liability of surety
Where any person [has furnished security or given a guarantee]—
(a) for the performance of any decree or any part thereof, or
(b) for the restitution of any property taken in execution of a decree, or
(c) for the payment of any money, or for the fulfilment of any condition imposed on any person, under an order
of the Court in any suit or in any proceeding consequent thereon,
the decree or order may be executed in the manner therein provided for the execution of decrees,
namely:—
(i) if he has rendered himself personally liable, against him to that extent;
(ii) if he has furnished any property as security, by sale of such property to the extent of the
security;
(iii) if the case falls both under clauses (i) and (ii) then to the extent specified in those clauses, and
such person shall, be deemed to be a party within the meaning of section 47:
Provided that such notice as the Court in each case thinks sufficient has been given to the surety.
146. Proceedings by or against representatives
Save as otherwise provided by this Code or by any law for the time being in force, where any proceeding may
be taken or application made by or against any person then the proceeding may be taken or the application may
be made by or against any person claiming under him.
147. Consent or agreement by persons under disability
In all suits to which any person under disability is a party, any consent or agreement, as to any
proceeding shall, if given or made with the express leave of the Court by the next friend or guardian for the
suit, have the same force and effect as if such person, were under no disability and had given such consent or
made such agreement.
148. Enlargement of time
Where any period is fixed or granted by the Court for the doing of any act prescribed or allowed by this
Code, the Court may, in its discretion, from time to time, enlarge such period, [not exceeding thirty days in
total,] even though the period originally fixed or granted may have expired.
148A. Right to lodge a caveat
(1) Where an application is expected to be made, or has been made, in a suit or proceeding instituted, or
about to be instituted, in a Court, any person claiming a right to appear before the Court on the hearing of
such application may lodge a caveat in respect thereof.
(2) Where a caveat has been lodged under sub-section (1), the person by whom the caveat has been lodged
(hereinafter referred to as the caveator) shall serve a notice of the caveat by registered post,
acknowledgement due, on the person by whom the application has been, or is expected to be, made, under
sub-section (1).
(3) Where, after a caveat has been lodged under sub-section (1), any application is filed in any suit or
proceeding, the Court, shall serve a notice of the application on the caveator.
(4) Where a notice of any caveat has been served on the applicant, he shall forthwith furnish the caveator at
the caveator’s expense, with a copy of the application made by him and also with copies of any paper or
document which has been, or may be, filed by him in support of the application.
(5) Where a caveat has been lodged under sub-section (1), such caveat shall not remain in force after the
expiry of ninety days from the date on which it was lodged unless the application referred to in sub-section
(1) has been made before the expiry of the said period.
149. Power to make up deficiency of court-fees
Where the whole or any part of any fee prescribed for any document by the law for the time being in force
relating to court-fees has not been paid, the Court may, in its discretion, at any stage, allow the person, by
whom such fee is payable, to pay the whole or part, as the case may be, of such court-fee; and upon such
payment the document, in respect of which fee is payable, shall have the same force and effect as if such fee
had been paid in the first instance.
150. Transfer of business
Save as otherwise provided, where the business of any Court is transferred to any other Court, the Court to
which the business is so transferred shall have the same powers and shall perform the same duties as those
respectively conferred and imposed by or under this Code upon the Court from which the business was so
transferred.
151. Saving of inherent powers of Court
Nothing in this Code shall be deemed to limit or otherwise affect the inherent power of the Court to make
such orders as may be necessary for the ends of justice or to prevent abuse of the process of the Court.
152. Amendment of judgments, decrees or orders
Clerical or arithmetical mistakes in judgments, decrees or orders or errors arising therein from any
accidental slip or omission may at any time be corrected by the Court either of its own motion or on the
application of any of the parties.
153. General power to amend
The Court may at any time, and on such terms as to costs or otherwise as it may think fit, amend any defect
or error in any proceeding in a suit; and all necessary amendments shall be made for the purpose of
determining the real question or issue raised by or depending on such proceeding.
153A. Power to amend decree or order where appeal is summarily dismissed
Where an Appellate Court dismisses an appeal under rule 11 of Order XLI, the power of the Court to amend,
under section 152, the decree or order appealed against may be exercised by the Court which had passed the
decree or order in the first instance, notwithstanding that the dismissal of the appeal has the effect of
confirming the decree or order, as the case may be, passed by the Court of first instance.
153B. Place of trial to be deemed to be open Court
The place in which any Civil Court is held for the purpose of trying any suit shall be deemed to be an open
Court, to which the public generally may have access so far as the same can conveniently contain them:
Provided that the presiding Judge may, if he thinks fit, order at any stage of any inquiry into or trial of
any particular case, that the public generally, or any particular person, shall not have access to, or be or
remain in, the room or building used by the Court.
154. Saving of present right of appeal
Rep. by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1952 (48 of 1952), s. 2 and the First Schedule.
155. Amendment of certain Acts
Rep. by s. 2 and the First Schedule., ibid.
156. Repeals
Rep. by the Second Repealing and Amending Act, 1914 (17 of 1914). s. 3 and the Second Schedule.
157. Continuance of orders under repealed enactments
Notifications published, declarations and rules made, places appointed, agreements filed, scales
prescribed, forms framed, appointments made and powers conferred under Act VIII of 1859 or under any Code of
Civil Procedure or any Act amending the same or under any other enactment hereby repealed shall, so far as
they are consistent with this Code, have the same force and effect as if they had been respectively published,
made, appointed, filed, prescribed, framed and conferred under this Code and by the authority empowered
thereby in such behalf.
158. Reference to Code of Civil Procedure and other repealed enactments
In every enactment or notification passed or issued before the commencement of this Code in which reference
is made to or to any Chapter or section of Act VIII of 1859 or any Code of Civil Procedure or any Act amending
the same or any other enactment hereby repealed, such reference shall, so far as may be practicable, be taken
to be made to this Code or to its corresponding Part, Order, section or rule.