Suits may be instituted by indigent persons
Full Text
Subject to the following provisions, any suit may be instituted by an indigent person.
Explanation I.—A person is an indigent person,—
(a) if he is not possessed of sufficient means (other than property exempt from attachment in execution of a decree and the subject-matter of the suit) to enable him to pay the fee prescribed by law for the plaint in such suit, or
(b) where no such fee is prescribed, if he is not entitled to property worth one thousand rupees other than the property exempt from attachment in execution of a decree, and the subject-matter of the suit.
Explanation II.—Any property which is acquired by a person after the presentation of his application for permission to sue as an indigent person, and before the decision of the application, shall be taken into account in considering the question whether or not the applicant is an indigent person.
Explanation III.—Where the plaintiff sues in a representative capacity, the question whether he is an indigent person shall be determined with reference to the means possessed by him in such capacity.
Plain English Summary
Constitutional gateway provision (read with Article 39A) allowing indigent litigants devoid of sufficient liquid means (excluding exempt necessities and suit property) to institute civil suits without prepayment of heavy ad valorem court fees.
Key Legal Elements
- Definition of Indigency (Exp. I): Lacking sufficient means to pay prescribed ad valorem court fee.
- Statutory Exclusions from Valuation: Necessary wearing apparel, cooking vessels, beddings, agricultural tools exempt under Section 60 CPC, and the disputed suit property itself.
- Post-Application Acquisitions (Exp. II): Any inheritance or property acquired pending the application is accounted for.
- Representative Capacity (Exp. III): Means assessed in official capacity (e.g. trustee/executor), not personal wealth.
- Juristic Persons Included: 'Person' encompasses companies, registered societies, and firms (Union Bank of India (2001)).
Practical Note
Indigent Status for Companies & Juristic Entities: 1. Supreme Court Landmark — Union Bank of India: In Union Bank of India v. Khader International Construction (2001) 5 SCC 22, the Supreme Court held that the word 'person' in Order XXXIII Rule 1 includes juristic persons such as companies and public corporations. A company whose bank accounts are frozen and has no realizable assets can apply to sue as an indigent person. 2. Disputed Suit Property Excluded: Opponents often argue that the plaintiff claims property worth crores and is therefore wealthy. Rule 1 expressly excludes 'the subject-matter of the suit'; the disputed property cannot be reckoned as available means.
हिंदी पाठ
निम्नलिखित उपबंधों के अधीन रहते हुए, कोई भी वाद किसी निर्धन व्यक्ति (Indigent person) द्वारा संस्थित किया जा सकेगा।
स्पष्टीकरण 1—कोई व्यक्ति निर्धन व्यक्ति तब है,—
(क) यदि उसके पास (डिक्री के निष्पादन में कुर्की से छूट-प्राप्त संपत्ति और वाद की विषय-वस्तु से भिन्न) ऐसे साधन उपलब्ध नहीं हैं जो ऐसे वाद में वादपत्र के लिए विधि द्वारा विहित फीस का संदाय करने में उसे समर्थ बनाएं, अथवा
(ख) जहां ऐसी कोई फीस विहित नहीं है, वहां यदि वह (डिक्री के निष्पादन में कुर्की से छूट-प्राप्त संपत्ति और वाद की विषय-वस्तु से भिन्न) एक हजार रुपये मूल्य की संपत्ति का हकदार नहीं है।
स्पष्टीकरण 2—किसी व्यक्ति द्वारा निर्धन व्यक्ति के रूप में वाद लाने की अनुज्ञा के लिए आवेदन पेश किए जाने के पश्चात और आवेदन के निर्णय से पूर्व अर्जित की गई किसी भी संपत्ति को यह विचार करने में हिसाब में लिया जाएगा कि क्या आवेदक निर्धन व्यक्ति है या नहीं।
स्पष्टीकरण 3—जहां वादी किसी प्रतिनिधिक हैसियत (Representative capacity) में वाद लाता है, वहां यह प्रश्न कि क्या वह निर्धन व्यक्ति है, ऐसी हैसियत में उसके पास उपलब्ध साधनों के संदर्भ में अवधारित किया जाएगा।