Fixing day for appearance of defendant
Full Text
The day under sub-rule (1) of rule 1 shall be fixed with reference to the current business of the Court, the place of residence of the defendant and the time necessary for the service of the summons; and the day shall be so fixed as to allow the defendant sufficient time to enable him to appear and answer on such day.
Plain English Summary
Mandates that the returnable court date for the defendant's appearance must allow adequate and realistic time considering court diary, geographical distance, and transmission logistics.
Key Legal Elements
- Sufficient Notice Principle: Date must afford realistic opportunity to engage counsel and travel.
- Factors Considered: Court calendar, distance/remoteness of defendant's residence, postal/transit delays.
- Natural Justice Pillar: Prevents pre-mature ex parte orders when summons return date provided insufficient travel time.
Practical Note
Challenging Ex Parte Orders on Ground of Insufficient Time: 1. Setting Aside Ex Parte: If summons was served on the defendant just 1 or 2 days prior to the fixed date giving no time to travel or engage counsel, invoke Rule 6 read with Order IX Rule 6(1)(c) and Rule 13 to set aside any adverse orders. 2. Duty of Court: Under Order IX Rule 6(1)(c), if summons was served without sufficient time, the court is legally bound to postpone the hearing and issue a fresh notice date.
हिंदी पाठ
नियम 1 के उपनियम (1) के अधीन दिन न्यायालय के चालू कामकाज, प्रतिवादी के निवास-स्थान और समन की तामील के लिए आवश्यक समय के संदर्भ में नियत किया जाएगा; और वह दिन इस प्रकार नियत किया जाएगा जिससे प्रतिवादी को ऐसे दिन उपसंजात होने और उत्तर देने में समर्थ बनाने के लिए पर्याप्त समय मिल सके।