Orders to be passed in a Case Management Hearing
Full Text
In a Case Management Hearing, after hearing the parties, and once it finds that there are issues of fact and law which require to be tried, the Court may pass an order––
(a) framing the issues between the parties in accordance with Order XIV of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 after examining pleadings, documents and documents produced before it, and on examination conducted by the Court under Rule 2 of Order X, if required;
(b) listing witnesses to be examined by the parties;
(c) fixing the date by which affidavit of evidence to be filed by parties;
(d) fixing the date on which evidence of the witnesses of the parties to be recorded;
(e) fixing the date by which written arguments are to be filed before the Court by the parties;
(f) fixing the date on which oral arguments are to be heard by the Court; and
(g) setting time limits for parties and their advocates to address oral arguments.
Plain English Summary
Prescribes the comprehensive master roadmap order passed at the Case Management Hearing, institutionalizing a strict calendar covering issues, witness lists, evidence affidavits, day-to-day cross-examination dates, written submissions, and strict time limits for oral arguments.
Key Legal Elements
- Comprehensive Pre-Trial Roadmap: Fixes the entire lifecycle of the trial in a single binding judicial order.
- Framing of Issues (Clause a): Integrated directly into the CMH proceeding.
- Witness Scheduling & Evidence Affidavits (Clauses b, c, d): Pre-determines the exact dates for cross-examination.
- Written Submissions and Argument Time Limits (Clauses e, f, g): Capping counsel arguments by the clock (e.g. 2 hours per party).
Practical Note
Courtroom Practice for the CMH Order: 1. Binding Calendar: In commercial divisions (e.g. Delhi High Court), the CMH order is drawn up like an unalterable flight schedule. Counsel must come with their calendar of dates and proposed witness list. 2. Time Limits on Arguments: Under Clause (g), commercial judges strictly enforce argument timers (e.g. 'Plaintiff's senior counsel granted 3 hours on [Date]; Defendant granted 3 hours on [Date]'). Adjournment requests are treated with extreme judicial hostility.
हिंदी पाठ
केस मैनेजमेंट हियरिंग में, पक्षकारों को सुनने के पश्चात और यह पाए जाने पर कि ऐसे तथ्य और विधि के विवाद्यक हैं जिनका विचारण आवश्यक है, न्यायालय ऐसा आदेश पारित कर सकेगा जिसमें––
(क) अभिवचनों, दस्तावेजों तथा आदेश 10 नियम 2 की परीक्षा के आधार पर आदेश 14 के अनुसार पक्षकारों के बीच विवाद्यक (Issues) विरचित करना;
(ख) पक्षकारों द्वारा परीक्षित किए जाने वाले गवाहों की सूची बनाना;
(ग) पक्षकारों द्वारा साक्ष्य का शपथपत्र (Affidavit of Evidence) दाखिल करने की तारीख नियत करना;
(घ) पक्षकारों के गवाहों के साक्ष्य दर्ज किए जाने की तारीख तय करना;
(ङ) न्यायालय के समक्ष लिखित बहस (Written Arguments) दाखिल करने की तारीख तय करना;
(च) न्यायालय द्वारा मौखिक बहस (Oral Arguments) सुने जाने की तारीख नियत करना; तथा
(छ) पक्षकारों और उनके अधिवक्ताओं द्वारा मौखिक बहस प्रस्तुत करने के लिए समय-सीमा (Time limits) निर्धारित करना शामिल है।