When foreign States may sue
Full Text
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.
Plain English Summary
Section 84 recognizes the sovereign standing of recognized foreign States to sue as plaintiffs in competent Indian courts, strictly conditional upon the suit seeking to enforce a private right vested in the Ruler or an officer of such State in their public capacity, rather than asserting political sovereignty.
Key Legal Elements
- Foreign State Plaintiff Standing: Grants recognized sovereign foreign States locus standi to institute civil proceedings.
- Limitation to Private Rights: Proviso confines maintainability to enforcing proprietary, contractual, or civil private rights.
- Exclusion of Political/Public Acts of State: Actions based purely on political treaties, sovereign conquests, or international acts of state cannot be agitated under Section 84.
- Executive Recognition Essential: The foreign State must be officially recognized by the Central Government (under Section 87A).
Practical Note
Enforcement of Commercial & Proprietary Rights of Foreign Governments: (1) Private Right vs Sovereign Act: A foreign State cannot invoke Indian civil court jurisdiction to enforce sovereign, penal, or revenue laws of its own country. The cause of action must concern civil or commercial transactions (e.g., recovery of goods supplied, breach of commercial charter, or title to movable/immovable assets located in India). (2) Title Format: Under Section 87A, a foreign State must sue in its recognized sovereign name (e.g., 'The State of Kuwait') or through an authorized representative appointed under Section 85.
हिंदी पाठ
कोई विदेशी राज्य किसी सक्षम न्यायालय में वाद ला सकेगा:
परन्तु यह तब जब कि वाद का उद्देश्य ऐसे राज्य के शासक में अथवा ऐसे राज्य के किसी अधिकारी में उसकी लोक हैसियत में निहित किसी प्राइवेट अधिकार को प्रवर्तित कराना हो।