Procedure in suits against public officer
Full Text
(1) Where the Government undertakes the defence of a suit against a public officer, the Government pleader upon being furnished with authority to appear and answer the plaint, shall apply to the court, and upon such application the Court shall cause a note of his authority to be entered in the register of civil suits.
(2) Where no application under sub-rule (1) is made by the Government pleader on or before the day fixed in the notice for the defendant to appear and answer, the case shall proceed as in a suit between private parties: Provided that the defendant shall not be liable to arrest, nor his property to attachment, otherwise than in execution of a decree.
Plain English Summary
Regulates government undertaking of a public officer's defense via the Government Pleader, establishing that if the State declines or fails to appear, the suit proceeds as private litigation while maintaining immunity against arrest or pre-judgment attachment.
Key Legal Elements
- Government Defense Assumption (Sub-rule 1): Government Pleader files authority memo; entry made in Register of Civil Suits.
- Default / Private Suit Procedure (Sub-rule 2): Suit proceeds like ordinary litigation if State does not undertake defense.
- Absolute Statutory Immunity (Proviso): Public officer protected from arrest and property attachment prior to final decree.
Practical Note
Immunity from Pre-Judgment Attachment: Even if the Government chooses not to defend the public officer and the suit proceeds ex parte or privately, the plaintiff cannot obtain an order for arrest before judgment (Order XXXVIII Rule 1) or attachment before judgment (Order XXXVIII Rule 5) against the officer. The Proviso to Rule 8(2) confers absolute statutory immunity until a final decree is executed.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) जहां सरकार किसी लोक अधिकारी के विरुद्ध वाद की प्रतिरक्षा का भार अपने ऊपर लेती है, वहां शासकीय प्लीडर वादपत्र में उपसंजात होने और उत्तर देने के लिए प्राधिकार दिए जाने पर न्यायालय से आवेदन करेगा, और ऐसे आवेदन पर न्यायालय उसके प्राधिकार का एक नोट सिविल वादों के रजिस्टर में दर्ज कराएगा।
(2) जहां शासकीय प्लीडर द्वारा उप-नियम (1) के अधीन कोई आवेदन प्रतिवादी के उपसंजात होने और उत्तर देने के लिए सूचना में नियत दिन को या उसके पूर्व नहीं किया जाता है, वहां मामला ऐसे आगे बढ़ेगा मानो वह प्राइवेट पक्षकारों के बीच का वाद हो: परंतु प्रतिवादी डिक्री के निष्पादन से अन्यथा न तो गिरफ्तारी का दायी होगा और न उसकी संपत्ति कुर्की की दायी होगी।