Introduction

Thereisadetailedprocedurelaiddown,forfilingacivilcase.Iftheprocedureisnotfollowed,thentheregistry
hasarighttodismissthesuit

TheProcedureisasfollows:
FilingOfSuit/Plaint
Vakalatnama
CourtFees
HowProceedingsAreConducted
WrittenStatement
ReplicationByPlaintiff
FilingOfOtherDocuments
FramingOfIssues/ListOfWitness
FinalHearing
Appeal,ReferenceAndReview
Limitation
FilingofSuit/Plaint
1.Inlayman'slanguageplaintisthewrittencomplaint/allegation.
2.Onewhofilesitisknownas"Plaintiff"andagainstwhomitisfiledisknownas"Defendant"
3.TheplainthastobefiledwithinthetimelimitprescribedintheLimitationAct,andshouldbetypedcopy,
indoublelinespace.
4.Name of the Court, Nature of Complaint, Names and Address of parties to be suit has to be clearly
mentioned.
5.Plaintshouldalsocontainverificationfromplaintiff,statingthat,contentsoftheplaintaretrueandcorrect
Vakalatnama
1.Aperson/partyfilingacase,Mayalsorepresenttheirowncasepersonallyinanycourt.
2.However,duetolackofknowledgeofLawandTechnicalProcedures,Lawyersareengagedtoreportthe
interestofparties.
3."Vakalatnama",isadocument,bywhichthepartyfilingthecaseauthorisestheAdvocatetorepresenton
theirbehalf?
4.OnGeneralTerms,aVakalatnamamaycontainthefallingterms:
5.TheclientwillnotholdtheAdvocateresponsibleforanydecision.
6.Theclientshallbearallthecostsand/expensesincurredduringtheproceedings.
7.Theadvocateshallhaverighttoretainthedocuments,unlesscompletefeesarepaid.
8.TheclientisfreetodisengagetheAdvocateatanystageoftheProceedings.
9.TheAdvocateshallhavealltherighttotakedecisionsonhisowninthecourtofLaw,duringthehearing,
tothebestinterestofclient.
10.Vakalatnamaisaffixedonthelastpageofplaint/suitandiskeptalongwithcourtrecords.
11.Nofeesarerequiredtobepaidonit.However,nowadays,DelhiHighcourtRulesrequire,a10Rupees.
"AdvocateWelfareStamp"tobeaffixedontheVakalatnama.
12.Plaintshouldalsohavetherequisitecourtfeesattachedtoit.Courtfeesaresomenominalpercentageof
thevalueoftheclaimorvalueofthesuit.TherequisiteamountofCourtandstampfeesisdifferentfor
everysuit,andismentionedinthe"CourtFeesStampAct."
CourtFees
Differentamountofcourtfeesispaidfordifferenttypeofdocuments.

Someofthemareasfollows
1.Incaseofplaint/writtenstatement==10RS.==ifthevalueofthesuitexceedRs.5,000/upto10,000/
2.Plaint,inasuitforpossession==Feeofonehalfoftheamountabove.
3.OnacopyofaDecreeororder==(50paise)==iftheamountorvalueofHavingtheforceofadecree
thesubjectmatterofthesuitwhereinsuchdecreeororderismadeisfiftyorlessthanfiftyrupees.
VvalueofSuit
1.ValueofsuitexceedsRs.1,50,0001,55,000==Rs.1700/
2.ValueofsuitexceedsRs.3,00,0003,05,000==Rs.2450/
3.ValueofsuitexceedsRs.4,00,0004,05,000==Rs.2950/
Finally,adateshallbegiventotheplaintiff,forfirsthearing.Onsuchhearing,thecourtwilldecidewhetherthe
proceedings should continue or not. If it decides, that the case no merits, then it will dismiss it there itself,
withoutcallingoppositeparty.Ifitdecidesotherwise,thenproceedingsshallbeing
HowProceedingsAreConducted
1.On the first day of hearing, if the court thinks there are merits in the case, it will issue notice to the
oppositeparty,tosubmittheirarguments,andfixadate.
2.Onissuanceofnoticetotheoppositeparty,theplaintiffisrequiredtodothefollowing:
i.Filerequisiteamountofprocedurefeeinthecourt.
ii.File2copiesofplaintforeachdefendantinthecourt,i.e.ifthereare3defendants,6copieshasto
befiled.

iii.Of, the 2 copies for each defendant, one shall be sent by Register/post/courier, and one by
Ordinarypost.
iv.Suchfilingshouldbedonewithin7days,fromdateoforder/notice.
WrittenStatement
1.Whenthenoticehasbeenissuedtothedefendant,heisrequiredtoappearonthedatementionedinthe
notice.
2.Before such date, the defendant is required to file his "written statement", i.e. his defense against the
allegationraisedbyplaintiff,within30daysfromdateofserviceofnotice,orwithinsuchtimeasgivenby
court
3.The written statement should specifically deny the allegations, which defendant thinks are false. Any
allegationnotspecificallydeniedisdeemedtobeadmitted.
4.The written statement should also contain verification from the Defendant, stating that, the contents of
writtenstatementaretrueandcorrect.
5.The time period of 30 days, for filing a Written Statement, can be extended to 90 days after seeking
permissionofthecourt.
ReplicationByPlaintiff
1."Replication"isareply,filedbytheplaintiff,againstthe"writtenstatement"ofDefendant.
2."Replication" should also specifically deny the allegations raised by the Defendant in written statement.
Anythingnotdeniedisdeemedtobeaccepted.
3.Replicationshouldalsocontain,a"verification"fromtheplaintiff,statingthatcontentsof"Replication"are
trueandcorrect.
4.OnceReplicationisfiled,pleadingsarestatedtobecomplete.
FilingofOtherDocuments
1.Once, the pleadings are complete, then both the parties are given opportunity to produce and file
documents,onwhichtheyrely,andtosubstantiatetheirclaims.
2.Anydocumentnotfiledorproducedcannotbereliedupon,duringfinalarguments.
3.FilingofDocumentsisnotsufficient.Theyshouldbeadmittedandtakenonrecord.Inbrieftheprocedure
isasfollows:
i.Documentsfiledbyonepartymaybeadmittedbyoppositeparty.
ii.Iftheyaredeniedbyoppositeparty,thentheycanbeadmittedbythewitnessproducedbyparty
whosedocumentsaredenied.
iii.Oncethedocumenthasbeenadmitteditshallformapartoftherecordofcourt,andallthedetails
ofsuitsuchasnameofparties,titleofsuitetc,shallbeinscribedonthedocument.(O13R497)
iv.Documents,whicharerejectedi.e.notadmitted,arereturnedtotherespectiveparties.
v.Itisnecessarythatdocumentshouldbefiledin"original",andasparecopyshouldbegiventothe
oppositeparty.
FramingofIssues/ListofWitness
1."ISSUES" are framed by the court, on the basis of which arguments and examination of witness takes
place.
2.Issuesareframed,keepinginviewthedisputesinthesuit,andthepartiesarenotallowedtogooutside
thepurviewof"Issues".
3.Issuesmaybeof:A)FactorB)Law
4.While passing final order, the court will deal with each issue separately, and pass judgement on each
issue.
LISTOFWITNESS
1.Whicheverwitness,thepartieswishtoproduce,andtobeexamined,hastobeproducedbeforethecourt.
2.Both the parties to the suit shall file a list of witness within 15 days from the date on which issues were
framedorwithinsuchotherperiodasthecourtmayprescribe.
3.Thepartiesmayeithercallthewitnessonit'sown,oraskthecourttosendsummonstothem.
4.Incasecourtsendsummonstowitnessthenthepartycallingforsuchwitnesshastodepositmoney'with
theCourtfortheirexpenses,knownas"DietMoney".
5.A person, who does not appear before the court, if he is required by the court to do so, then the court
mayimposefineandpenaltyonhim.
6.Finallyonthedate,thewitnesswillbeexaminedbyboththeparties.
i.Examinationbypartyofit'sownwitnessiscalled"Examinationinchief"
ii.Examinationbypartyofotherparty'switnessiscalled"crossExamination".
iii.Whatever,hastobedeposedin"Examinationinchief",canalsobefiledbywayofanAffidavit.
iv.Once, the Examination and Cross Examination of witness is over, and also the admission and
denialofdocuments,thenthecourtwillfixadateforfinalhearing.
FinalHearing
1.Onthedayfixedforfinalhearing,theargumentsshalltakeplace.
2.Theargumentsshouldstrictlybeconfinedtotheissuesframed.
3.BeforethefinalArguments,thepartieswiththepermissionofCourt,canamendtheirpleadings.
4.Whateverisnotcontainedinthepleadings,thecourtmayrefusetolisten.

5.Finally,thecourtshallpassa"finalOrder",eitheronthedayofhearingitself,orsomeotherdayfixedby
thecourt.
CERTIFIEDCOPYOFORDER
1.Certifiedcopyoforder,mean,thefinalorderofcourt,andhavingthesealandstampofcourt.
2.Certifiedcopyofuseful,incaseofexecutionoftheorder,orincaseofAppeal.
3.Certified copy can be applied by making an application to the Registry of concerned Court, alongwith
nominalfeesfortheorder.
4.Incaseof"urgentrequirementsomeadditionalamounthastobedeposited.
5."Urgentorder"canbeobtainedwithinaweek,andthenormalmighttake15days.
Appeal,ReferenceandReview
Whenanorderispassedagainstapartytothesuit,itisnotthatithasnofurtherremedy.

Suchpartycanfurtherinitiatetheproceedings,bywayof:
1.Appeal,
2.Reference,or
3.Review.
Inbrief,thetechnicalitiesanddifferencebetweentheseareasfollows:
APPEAL
APPEALFROMORIGINALDECREES

(Sec.96)Ingeneral,anappealliesfromanydecreepassedbythe

court.
(Sec96) Incases,wherethevalueofsuitdoesnotexceedRs.10,
000Anappealcanbefiledonlyonaquestionoflaw.
(Sec.96) WhenadecreehasbeenpassedagainsttheDefendantas
"ExParte",i.e.withouthisappearance,noappealis
allowed
(Sec.96) Whenanappealisheadedbytwoormorejudges,thenthe
majoritydecisionshallprevail.
Incasethereisnomajority,thenthedecreeoflowercourt
shallbeconfirmed.
Incase,thenumberofjudgesinthecourt,whereappealis
filedismore,thanthenumberofjudgeshearingthe
appeal,thenifthereisadisputeonapointoflaw,such
disputecanbereferredtooneormorejudges.

PROCEDUREFORAPPEALFROMORIGINALDECREES(ORDER41)

1.Theappealshallbefiledintheformprescribed,singedbytheappellant,alongwithatruecertifiedcopyof
theorder.
2.The appeal shall contain the grounds of objection under distinct heads, and such grounds shall be
numberedconsecutively.
3.If the appeal is against a decree for payment of money, the court may require the appellant to deposit
thedisputedamountorfurnishanyothersecurity.
4.A ground/objection which has not been mentioned in the appeal, cannot be taken up for arguments,
withoutthepermissionofcourt.
5.Similarly any point of act which was not taken up y the Appellant, in lower court, cannot be taken up in
appealliesonlyagainstonlythosepointswhichhavebeendecidedbythecourtrightlyorwrongly.
Limitation
1.For every appeal, there is a limited period, within which appeal should be filed. Such a limitation is
providedundertheLimitationAct,1963.
2.Forappeal,incaseofadecreepassedbylowercourtincivilsuit,thelimitationis:
i.AppealtoHighCourt90daysfromthedateofdecreeororder.
ii.Appealtoanyothercourt30daysfromthedateofDecreeororder.
3.Incasetherearemorethanoneplaintiffsordefendants,thenanyoneofthemcanfileonappealagainst
allofthemrespectively.
4.Merely because an appeal is filed, does not mean that the order or decree of lower court is stayed. In
case of temporary stay of decree or order, it has to be specifically asked, and stay will operate only if
courtgrantsit.
5.Incaseofexecutionofdecree,thecourt,whichpassedthedecree,canitselfstaytheexecutionfortime
beingonsufficientreasonsshown.

6.Thecourtmayrequiretheappellanttodepositsomesortofsecurity.
7.Theappellatecourtmay,onthedayfixedforhearingtheappellantdismisstheappeal,orissuenoticeto
theoppositepartytoappearonnextday.
8.Ifonthefirstdayofhearing,appellatecourtissuessummonstotheoppositeparty,then:
i.Itshallfixadatefornexthearing,andsuchdateshallbepublishedinthecourthouse.
ii.Noticeshallalsobesenttothelowercourt,whosedecreeororderhasbeenappealed.
iii.Toappellantisrequiredtofile"ProcessFee"whichisverynominalinamount,andonsuchfiling,
thenoticeshallalsobesenttooppositeparty.
iv.Incaseofappeal,theonewhofilestheappealisknownasappellant,andagainstwhomitisfiled,
isknownas"Respondent".