Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
121. Effect of rules in First Schedule? The rules in a First Schedule shall have effect as if enacted
in the body of this Code until annulted 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 subjects to their superintendence, and may be
such rules annul, alter or add to all or any of the rules in the First Schedule.
123. Constitution of Rule Committees in certain States? (1) 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.
(2) Each such Committee shall consist of the following persons, namely?
(a) three Judges of the High Court established at the town at which such Committee is
constituted, 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[91]*****
[92]***
(3) The members of each such Committee shall be appointed by the [93][High Court], which shall
also nominate one of their number to be President :
[94]***
(4) Each member of any such Committee shall hold office for such period as may be prescribed
by the [95][High Court] in this behalf; and whenever any member retires, resigns, dies or ceases
to reside in the State in which the Committee was constituted or becomes incapable of acting as
a member of the Committee, the said [96][High Court] may appoint another person to be a
member in his stead.
(5) There shall be a secretary to each such Committee who shall be appointed by the [97][High
Court] and shall receiver such remuneration as may be provided in this behalf by the State
Government.
STATE AMENDMENTS
Assam and Nagaland? Substitute the following for clause (a) sub-section (2) of section 123.
"(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"
[Assam Act No. VIII of 1953].
Tamil Nadu? In section 123 sub-section (2).
(a) "In clause (b) for the words `two legal practitioners' substitute the words `three legal
practitioners'."
(b) "Omit the words `Madras' in clause (d)".
[Tamil Nadu Act No. 15 of 1970].
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, and before making any rules under section
122 the High Court shall take such 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 situate or, if that Court is not situate in any State, to the previous approval of
Central Government.
127. Publication of rules? Rules so made and approved shall be published in the Official Gazette
and shall from the date of publication or from such other date as may be specified 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? (1) Such rules shall be not 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.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred by sub-section
(1), such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely :?
(a) the service of summons, notices and other processes by post or in any other manner either
generally or in any specified areas, and the proof of such service;
(b) the maintenance and custody, while under attachment, of live-stock and other movable
property, the fees payable for such maintenance and custody, the sale of such live-stock 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 order 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 tot he suit or not;
(f) summary procedure?
(i) in suits in which the plaintiff seeks only to recover a debt or liquidated demand in money
payable by the defendant, with or without interest, arising?
on a contract express or implied; or
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; or
on a guarantee, where the claim against the principal is in respect of a debt or a liquidated
demand only; or
on trust; or
(ii) in suits for the recovery of immovable property, with or without 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;
(g) procedure by way of originating summons;
(h) consolidation of suits, appeals and other proceedings;
(i) delegation to any Registrar, Prothonotary or Master or other official of the Court of any judicial,
quasi-judicial and non-judicial duties; and
(j) all forms, registers, books, entries and accounts which may be necessary or desirable for the
transaction of the business of Civil Courts.
129. Power of High Court 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 or order or other law establishing it to regulate
its own procedure in the exercise of its original civil jurisdiction as it shall think fit, and nothing
herein contained shall affect the validity of any such rules in force at the commencement of this
Code.
130. Powers of other High Court 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 with respect to any matter other than procedure any rule which a High Court
for a State might under article 227 of the Constitution make 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 and shall from the date of publication or from such other date as
may be specified have the force of law.
PART XI-MISCELLANEOUS
132. Exemption of certain women from personal appearance? (1)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.
(2) 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? (1)The following persons shall be entitled to exemption from
personal appearance in Court, namely?
(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; and
(xi) the persons to whom section 87B applies.
[98]***
(3) Where any person claims the privilege of such exemption, and it is consequently 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? (1) 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.
(2) 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 pleader, mukhtars, revenue-agents and
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.
(3) 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 person in execution of a decree.
135A. Exemption of members of legislative bodies from arrest and detention under civil process?
[99][(1) No person shall be liable to arrest or detention in prison under civil process?
(a) if he is a member of?
(i) either House of Parliament, or
(ii) the legislative Assembly or Legislative Council of a State, or
(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;
(b) if he is a member of any committee of?
(i) either House of Parliament, or
(ii) the Legislative Assembly of a State or Union territory, or
(iii) the Legislative council of a State,
during the continuance of any meeting of such committee;
(c) if he is a member of?
(i) either House of Parliament, or
(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 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 reside 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
th 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 Court shall be written.
(3) Where this Court 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 tanslation 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 AMENDMENTS
Rajasthan? For sub-section (3) of section 137 substitute the following:
"(3) Wherever the 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 from of Indian numerals.
Provided that the court may in its decretion accept such writing in England 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 copy of such writing in Hindi."
[Raj. Act No. 7 of 1983].
Uttar Pradesh? To section 137 (3) insert the following proviso:
"Provided that with effect from such date as the State Government in consultation with the High
Court may by notification in the Gazette appoint, the language of every judgment, decree or order
passed on made by such courts or classes of courts subordinate to the High Court and in such
classes of cases as may be specified shall only be Hindi in Devnagri Script with the international
form of Indian numerals".
(U.P. Act No. 17 of 1970).
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.
STATE AMENDMENTS
Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura and Manipur? For section 138, substitute the following
section:?
"138. Power of High Court to require evidence to be record in English.? 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 in cases in which an appeal is allowed, he shall
take down, or cause to be taken down, the evidence in the English language and in the form and
manner prescribed."
[Assam Act 2 of 1941, State of Nagaland Act 27 of 1962].
139. Oath on affidavit by whom to be administered? In the case of any affidavit under this Code?
(a) any Court or Magistrate, or
[100] [(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 AMENDMENTS
Uttar Pradesh? (i) for clause (b) of section 139 substitute:
"(b) any person appointed in this behalf by a High Court or by a district court; or"
(ii) for clause (c) of section 139 substitute:
"(c) any person appointed in this behalf by such other court as the State Govt. may, by general or
special order, empower in this behalf."
[U.P. Act No. 11 of 1981].
140. Assessors in causes of salvage etc.? (1) In any admiralty or vice-admiralty cause of salvage,
towage 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 suit shall be
followed, as far as it can be made applicable, in all proceedings in any Court of civil jurisdiction.
[101][Explanation.?In this section, the expression "proceedings" includes proceedings under
Order IX, but does not include any proceeding 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 communications 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 [102][varied or
reversed in any appeal, revision or other proceedings 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 [103][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 [104][consequential on such variation, reversal, setting aside or modification of the
decree or order.]
[105] [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).
STATE AMENDMENTS
Uttar Pradesh? Substitute the following for sub-section (1) of section 144 of the Code:
"(1) Where and in so far as a decree or an order is varied or reversed in appeal, revision or
otherwise, the Court of first instance 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 for as may be,
place the parties in the position which they would have occupied but for such decree or order or
such part there of as has been varied or reversed; and for this purpose, the Court may make any
orders, including orders for the refused of costs and for the payment of interest, damages,
compensation and mesne profits, which are properly consequential on such variation or reversal".
[U.P. Act No. 24 of 1954].
145. Enforcement of liability of surety? Where any person [106][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,
[107][the decree or order may be executed in the manner therein provided for the execution of
decree, 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.
STATE AMENDMENTS
Uttar Pradesh? Substitute the following for section 145;
"145. Where any person has become liable as surety or given any property as security:
(a) for the performance of any decree or any part there of, or
(b) for the restitution of any property taken in execution of any 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 there on,? the decree or
order may be executed in the manner herein provided for the execution of decrees:?
(i) if he has rendered himself personally liable, against him to that extent; and
(ii) if he has given any property as security, by sale of such property to the extent of the security;
such person shall, for the purposes of appeal, 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.
Explanation:? For the purposes of this section a person entrusted by a Court with custody of any
property attached in execution of any decree or order shall be deemed to have become liable as
surety for the restitution of such property within the meaning of clause (b)."
[U.P. Act No. 24 of 1954].
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, even though the period originally fixed or granted may gave expired.
[108][148A. Right to lodge a caveat? (1) Where an application is expected to be made, or has
been made, in a suit or proceedings 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 reman 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 such 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 provide, 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 of the purpose of determining the real question or issue
raised by or depending on such proceeding.
[109][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 Court.]
154. [Saving of present right of appeal]? Rep. by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1952 (48 of
1952), s. 2 and Sch. I.
155. [Amendment of certain Acts]? Rep. by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1952 (48 of 1952),
s. 2 and Sch. I.
156. [Repeals]? Rep. by the Second Repealing and Amending Act, 1914 (17 of 1914), s. 3 and
Sch. II.
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 8 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 is 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 Charter or section of Act 8 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.