Institution of suits
Full Text
(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.
Plain English Summary
Section 26 sets forth the foundational rule for commencing a civil action, mandating that every suit must be instituted by presenting a plaint (or as prescribed) and that the averments of fact in every plaint must be substantiated by an affidavit, including the Statement of Truth under Order VI Rule 15A for commercial suits.
Key Legal Elements
- Presentation of Plaint: Foundational mode for instituting civil suits in subordinate courts.
- Mandatory Verification by Affidavit (Sec 26(2)): Every plaint's factual averments must be supported by an affidavit.
- Statement of Truth: Proviso requires strict adherence to Order VI Rule 15A for commercial suits.
- Limitation Benchmark: Presentation fixes the institution date under Section 3 of the Limitation Act, 1963.
Practical Note
Pivotal gateway to civil litigation: (1) Limitation Anchor: Presentation of the plaint marks the precise date of institution for the purposes of Section 3 of the Limitation Act, 1963. Procedural defects cured within court-granted time relate back to the original filing date. (2) Mandatory Affidavit / Statement of Truth: Added by amendment to curb frivolous claims. In Commercial Courts, non-filing of the 'Statement of Truth' in the form prescribed under Order VI Rule 15A can lead to striking out pleadings, while a false affidavit invites perjury proceedings under Section 340 CrPC / BNS. (3) Procedural Linkage: Must be read harmoniously with Order IV Rule 1 (suit in duplicate) and Order VII (plaint particulars and document filing).
हिंदी पाठ
(1) प्रत्येक वाद वादपत्र (प्लेंट) को उपस्थित करके अथवा ऐसी अन्य रीति से, जैसी विहित की जाए, संस्थित किया जाएगा।
(2) प्रत्येक वादपत्र में, तथ्यों को शपथपत्र (एफिडेविट) द्वारा साबित किया जाएगा।
परन्तु ऐसा शपथपत्र उस प्ररूप और रीति में होगा जैसा आदेश VI के नियम 15क के अधीन विहित किया गया है।