Courts to try all civil suits unless barred
Full Text
The Courts shall (subject to the provisions herein contained) have jurisdiction to try all suits of a civil nature excepting suits of which their cognizance is either expressly or impliedly barred.
Explanation I.—A suit in which the right to property or to an office is contested is a suit of a civil nature, notwithstanding that such right may depend entirely on the decision of questions as to religious rites or ceremonies.
Explanation II.—For the purposes of this section, it is immaterial whether or not any fees are attached to the office referred to in Explanation I or whether or not such office is attached to a particular place.
Plain English Summary
Section 9 confers plenary jurisdiction upon civil courts to try all suits of a civil nature, unless their cognizance is expressly or impliedly barred by any statute. It clarifies that contests over property or religious/customary offices constitute suits of a civil nature regardless of accompanying fees or location.
Key Legal Elements
- Plenary Jurisdiction: Civil courts have inherent jurisdiction to adjudicate all civil disputes unless explicitly or implicitly ousted.
- Express or Implied Bar: Cognizance may be barred by express statutory enactment or by necessary implication where a special statute creates a dedicated tribunal with complete remedies.
- Suit of a Civil Nature: Encompasses adjudication of private legal rights, status, property, contract, and tort, distinguishing them from purely social, political, or religious matters.
- Contest to Office/Property (Explanations I & II): Suits involving a right to property or office (even religious/priesthood offices without attached fees or localized premises) are civil suits.
Practical Note
Foundational provision for maintainability and jurisdictional challenges: Civil court jurisdiction is universally presumed, and exclusionary statutory clauses must be strictly construed (*Dhulabhai* principles). When opposing an application under Order 7 Rule 11 claiming a bar created by special tribunals (e.g., DRT, NCLT, RERA, Waqf Tribunal), establish that the special enactment cannot grant substantive common law remedies like cancellation of title deeds or declarations of ownership, thereby sustaining civil court jurisdiction.
हिंदी पाठ
न्यायालयों को (इसमें इसके पश्चात् अन्तर्विष्ट उपबन्धों के अध्यधीन रहते हुए) उन वादों के सिवाय जिनका उनके द्वारा संज्ञान अभिव्यक्त या विवक्षित रूप से वर्जित है, सिविल प्रकृति के सभी वादों के विचारण की अधिकारिता होगी।
स्पष्टीकरण I.—वह वाद जिसमें सम्पत्ति सम्बन्धी या पद सम्बन्धी अधिकार विवादित है, सिविल प्रकृति का वाद है, भले ही ऐसा अधिकार धार्मिक कर्मों या कर्मकाण्डों सम्बन्धी प्रश्नों के विनिश्चय पर ही पूरी तरह से अवलम्बित क्यों न हो।
स्पष्टीकरण II.—इस धारा के प्रयोजनों के लिए यह बात तात्विक नहीं है कि स्पष्टीकरण I में निर्दिष्ट पद से कोई फीस संलग्न है या नहीं, अथवा ऐसा पद किसी विशिष्ट स्थान से संलग्न है या नहीं।