Institution of summary suits
Full Text
(1) A suit, to which this Order applies, may if the plaintiff desires to proceed hereunder, be instituted by presenting a plaint which shall contain,—
(a) a specific averment to the effect that the suit is filed under this Order;
(b) that no relief, which does not fall within the ambit of this rule, has been claimed in the plaint; and
(c) the following inscription, immediately below the number of the suit in the title of the suit, namely:—
“(Under Order XXXVII of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908).”
(2) The summons of the suit shall be in Form No. 4 in Appendix B or in such other Form as may, from time to time, be prescribed.
(3) The defendant shall not defend the suit referred to in sub-rule (1) unless he enters an appearance and in default of his entering an appearance the allegations in the plaint shall be deemed to be admitted and the plaintiff shall be entitled to a decree for any sum, not exceeding the sum mentioned in the summons, together with interest at the rate specified, if any, up to the date of the decree and such sum for costs as may be determined by the High Court from time to time by rules made in that behalf and such decree may be executed forthwith.
Plain English Summary
Mandates special pleading inscriptions and statutory Form No. 4 summons in summary suits; stipulates that failure of the defendant to enter appearance within 10 days results in deemed admission of all plaint allegations and immediate entitlement to decree.
Key Legal Elements
- Three Mandatory Pleading Requirements: (a) Express averment that suit is under O. 37, (b) negative averment claiming no extraneous relief, (c) bold inscription under the suit number.
- Special Summons (Form No. 4, App. B): Distinct from ordinary Form No. 1 summons; informs defendant of the strict 10-day deadline to enter appearance.
- Deemed Admission on Non-Appearance: Automatic statutory forfeiture of defence; allegations deemed proved without recording evidence.
- Immediate Executable Decree: Plaintiff gets decree for principal + specified interest up to decree date + taxed costs, executable forthwith.
- Strict Compliance: If the plaintiff claims unliquidated damages or omits the mandatory endorsement, the suit loses its summary character.
Practical Note
Procedural Strictness & Form No. 4: 1. Philosophy of Order XXXVII: In Neebha Kapoor v. Jayantilal Khandwala (2008) 3 SCC 770, the Supreme Court emphasized that the underlying purpose of Order XXXVII is to prevent unreasonable obstruction by defendants lacking a bona fide defence. When a defendant served with Form 4 summons fails to enter appearance within 10 days, the court has no option but to pass a decree forthwith. Evidence cannot be demanded from the plaintiff. 2. Inscription Mandate: The title must strictly bear the words '(Under Order XXXVII of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908)'. Omission of this inscription or claiming extraneous relief allows the defendant to seek re-numbering as an ordinary suit.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) ऐसा वाद जिस पर यह आदेश लागू होता है, यदि वादी इसके अधीन कार्यवाही करना चाहता है, तो एक ऐसा वादपत्र प्रस्तुत करके संस्थित किया जा सकेगा जिसमें—
(क) इस आशय का एक विनिर्दिष्ट प्रकथन होगा कि यह वाद इस आदेश के अधीन दायर किया गया है;
(ख) यह प्रकथन होगा कि वादपत्र में ऐसा कोई अनुतोष नहीं मांगा गया है जो इस नियम की परिधि में नहीं आता है; तथा
(ग) वाद के शीर्षक में वाद संख्या के ठीक नीचे निम्नलिखित उत्कीर्णन (Inscription) होगा, अर्थात्:—
“(सिविल प्रक्रिया संहिता, 1908 के आदेश XXXVII के अधीन)।”
(2) वाद का सम्मन परिशिष्ट ख के प्ररूप संख्या 4 में अथवा ऐसे अन्य प्ररूप में होगा जैसा समय-समय पर विहित किया जाए।
(3) प्रतिवादी उप-नियम (1) में निर्दिष्ट वाद में तब तक प्रतिरक्षा नहीं करेगा जब तक कि वह उपसंजात (Appearance) न हो जाए, और उसके उपसंजात होने में व्यतिक्रम होने पर वादपत्र के अभिकथन स्वीकृत मान लिए जाएंगे तथा वादी सम्मन में उल्लिखित राशि से अनधिक किसी भी राशि के लिए, डिक्री की तारीख तक विनिर्दिष्ट दर पर ब्याज (यदि कोई हो) सहित तथा खर्चों के लिए ऐसी राशि सहित जो उच्च न्यायालय द्वारा इस निमित्त बनाए गए नियमों द्वारा समय-समय पर अवधारित की जाए, डिक्री पाने का हकदार होगा और ऐसी डिक्री का निष्पादन तुरंत कराया जा सकेगा।