No abatement by party's death if right to sue survives
Full Text
The death of a plaintiff or defendant shall not cause the suit to abate if the right to sue survives.
Plain English Summary
Lays down the foundational principle of survival of causes of action: the death of a litigant does not terminate the civil action provided the right to sue survives to or against the legal representatives.
Key Legal Elements
- Right to Sue Survives: The central criterion determining whether suit survives or abates.
- Maxim 'Actio personalis moritur cum persona': Personal claims (defamation, assault, adultery) die with the person.
- Property & Contractual Rights Survive: Suits regarding debt, partition, possession, or breach of contract survive to legal heirs.
- Universal Application: Governs both plaintiffs and defendants in all civil actions.
Practical Note
Distinguishing Personal Actions from Proprietary Rights: 1. Landmark Authorities - Girijanandini Devi v. Bijendra Narain Choudhary AIR 1967 SC 1124 & M. Veerappa v. Evelyn Sequeira (1988) 1 SCC 556: The Supreme Court held that where the right to sue involves proprietary interests, estate, or contractual enforcement, the cause of action survives under Rule 1. Conversely, purely personal tort actions like defamation or assault abate immediately on the death of the plaintiff or defendant. 2. Exception in Defamation Decrees: If a decree has already been passed in a personal action before death, the decree enures to the benefit of the estate and does not abate in appeal (Order XXII Rule 11).
हिंदी पाठ
किसी वादी या प्रतिवादी की मृत्यु से वाद का उपशमन (Abatement) नहीं होगा यदि वाद लाने का अधिकार (Right to sue) बचा रहता है।