Provisions not applicable to High Court in original civil jurisdiction
Full Text
(1) The following provisions shall not apply to the High Court in the exercise of its original civil jurisdiction, namely, sections 16, 17 and 20.
Plain English Summary
Section 120 explicitly excludes the territorial jurisdiction rules of Sections 16, 17, and 20 of CPC from applying to High Courts exercising original civil jurisdiction, which are instead governed by their respective Letters Patent (e.g. Clause 12).
Key Legal Elements
- Exclusion of Territorial Jurisdiction Sections: Sections 16 (immovable property), 17 (property across multiple jurisdictions), and 20 (other suits/defendants) do not apply to High Court Original Side.
- Supremacy of Letters Patent: Territorial and subject-matter jurisdiction on Original Side are governed by Charter / Letters Patent (e.g., Clause 12).
- Special Nature of Chartered Original Jurisdiction: Retains historical autonomy of superior court original filings.
Practical Note
Letters Patent Clause 12 vs CPC Sections 16, 17 & 20: (1) Complete Carve-Out for Original Side Jurisdiction: In Chartered High Courts (Bombay, Calcutta, Madras), territorial jurisdiction for suits filed on the Original Side is governed not by Sections 16, 17, or 20 of the CPC, but by Clause 12 of their Letters Patent. Under Clause 12, leave of the court can be obtained if the cause of action arises in part within the local limits of ordinary original civil jurisdiction, even if the property is located outside (*Food Corporation of India v. Evdomon Corp., 1999*). (2) Delhi High Court Position: In Delhi High Court, original civil jurisdiction is governed by the Delhi High Court Act, 1966.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) निम्नलिखित उपबंध उच्च न्यायालय को उसकी आरंभिक सिविल अधिकारिता के प्रयोग में लागू नहीं होंगे, अर्थात्, धारा 16, 17 और 20।