Persons specially appointed by Government to prosecute or defend on behalf of foreign Rulers
Full Text
(1) The Central Government may, at the request of the Ruler of a foreign State or at the request of any person competent in the opinion of the Central Government to act on behalf of such Ruler, by order, appoint any persons to prosecute or defend any suit on behalf of such Ruler, and any persons so appointed shall be deemed to be the recognized agents by whom appearances, acts and applications under this Code may be made or done on behalf of such Ruler.
(2) An appointment under this section may be made for the purpose of a specified suit or of several specified suits, or for the purpose of all such suits as it may from time to time be necessary to prosecute or defend on behalf of such Ruler.
(3) A person appointed under this section may authorise or appoint any other persons to make appearances and applications and do acts in any such suit or suits as if he were himself a party thereto.
Plain English Summary
Section 85 empowers the Central Government, upon diplomatic request, to appoint designated persons as recognized agents to institute, prosecute, or defend civil suits on behalf of a Ruler of a foreign State, with full statutory authority to sign pleadings, engage counsel, and delegate representative acts.
Key Legal Elements
- Diplomatic Request Prerequisite: Triggered by a formal request from the Ruler of a foreign State or their recognized representative.
- Central Government Appointment Order: Agency is conferred via formal executive order of the Central Government.
- Statutory Recognized Agent Status: Appointees become recognized agents under Order III Rule 2 with authority to appear, plead, and act.
- Sub-Delegation Power (Sec 85(3)): The appointed agent may delegate powers and engage advocates/sub-agents as if they were a direct party to the suit.
Practical Note
Procedural Mechanism for Sovereign Representation & Order III Linkage: (1) Overcoming Personal Appearance: Foreign Heads of State cannot be subjected to routine verification or court appearances; Section 85 provides the statutory machinery conferring recognized agent status on diplomats, consuls, or law firms. (2) Breadth of Appointment: The appointment order by the Ministry of External Affairs/Central Government can be case-specific or an omnibus standing authorization covering all litigations involving the foreign sovereign. (3) Sub-Authorization: Under sub-section (3), the designated agent has complete power to execute vakalatnamas and appoint advocates without needing a fresh power of attorney directly from the foreign Head of State.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) केंद्रीय सरकार, किसी विदेशी राज्य के शासक के अनुरोध पर अथवा ऐसे शासक की ओर से कार्य करने के लिए केंद्रीय सरकार की राय में सक्षम किसी व्यक्ति के अनुरोध पर, आदेश द्वारा, ऐसे शासक की ओर से किसी वाद का अभियोजन या प्रतिरक्षा करने के लिए किन्हीं व्यक्तियों को नियुक्त कर सकेगी, और इस प्रकार नियुक्त कोई भी व्यक्ति ऐसे मान्यताप्राप्त अभिकर्ता (Recognized Agent) समझे जाएंगे जिनके द्वारा ऐसे शासक की ओर से इस संहिता के अधीन उपसंजातियां (उपस्थितियां), कार्य और आवेदन किए जा सकेंगे।
(2) इस धारा के अधीन कोई नियुक्ति किसी विनिर्दिष्ट वाद के प्रयोजन के लिए अथवा अनेक विनिर्दिष्ट वादों के प्रयोजन के लिए, अथवा उन सभी वादों के प्रयोजन के लिए की जा सकेगी जिनका ऐसे शासक की ओर से समय-समय पर अभियोजन या प्रतिरक्षा करना आवश्यक हो।
(3) इस धारा के अधीन नियुक्त कोई व्यक्ति ऐसे किसी वाद या वादों में उपसंजातियां और आवेदन करने तथा कार्य करने के लिए किन्हीं अन्य व्यक्तियों को इस प्रकार प्राधिकृत या नियुक्त कर सकेगा मानो वह स्वयं उसमें कोई पक्षकार हो।