Written Statement
Full Text
The Defendant shall, within thirty days from the date of service of summons on him, present a written statement of his defence:
Provided that where the defendant fails to file the written statement within the said period of thirty days, he shall be allowed to file the same on such other day, as may be specified by the Court, for reasons to be recorded in writing, but which shall not be later than ninety days from the date of service of summons.
*[Commercial Courts Act Proviso] Provided that where the defendant fails to file the written statement within the said period of thirty days, he shall be allowed to file the written statement on such other day, as may be specified by the Court, for reasons to be recorded in writing and on payment of such costs as the Court deems fit, but which shall not be later than one hundred twenty days from the date of service of summons and on expiry of one hundred twenty days from the date of service of summons, the defendant shall forfeit the right to file the written statement and the Court shall not allow the written statement to be taken on record.
Plain English Summary
Mandates filing the written statement within 30 days from summons service, establishing the discretionary 90-day extension in ordinary civil suits and the mandatory 120-day forfeiture in commercial courts.
Key Legal Elements
- 30-Day Base Rule: Triggered strictly on the date of service of summons with plaint copy.
- 90-Day Discretionary Extension (Ordinary Civil Suits): Directory provision; court can condone delay beyond 90 days in exceptional hardship (Kailash v. Nanhku).
- 120-Day Inflexible Forfeiture (Commercial Suits): Mandatory; on 121st day, the right to file WS is forfeited forever and cannot be extended under Sec. 151 or Limitation Act (SCG Contracts).
- Computation of Limitation: Starts on date of actual complete service, not issue date.
Practical Note
The Ultimate Guide to Written Statement Deadlines: 1. Supreme Court Landmark on Ordinary Suits - Kailash v. Nanhku (2005) 4 SCC 480 & Salem Advocate Bar Association (II) (2005) 6 SCC 344: The 90-day period in the proviso to Order VIII Rule 1 is directory, not mandatory, for ordinary civil courts. The court retains inherent power under Section 151 to accept a written statement beyond 90 days in rare and exceptional circumstances upon payment of costs. 2. Supreme Court Landmark on Commercial Suits - SCG Contracts India Pvt. Ltd. v. K.S. Chamankar Infrastructure (2019) 12 SCC 210: In commercial disputes, the 120-day outer limit is absolute and mandatory. The statutory consequence of forfeiture cannot be circumvented under Section 151 CPC or Section 5 Limitation Act. 3. Application Header: 'Application on behalf of Defendant under Order VIII Rule 1 read with Section 151 CPC seeking Condonation of Delay in filing Written Statement and placing the same on record'.
हिंदी पाठ
प्रतिवादी उस पर समन की तामील की तारीख से तीस दिन (30 Days) के भीतर अपनी प्रतिरक्षा का लिखित कथन (Written Statement) प्रस्तुत करेगा:
परन्तु जहां प्रतिवादी तीस दिन की उक्त अवधि के भीतर लिखित कथन प्रस्तुत करने में असफल रहता है, वहां उसे ऐसे अन्य दिन, जो न्यायालय द्वारा ऐसे कारणों से, जिन्हें लेखबद्ध किया जाएगा, विनिर्दिष्ट किया जाए, लिखित कथन प्रस्तुत करने के लिए अनुज्ञात किया जाएगा, किंतु वह समन की तामील की तारीख से नब्बे दिन (90 Days) के बाद का नहीं होगा।
*[वाणिज्यिक न्यायालय अधिनियम परंतुक] परन्तु जहां प्रतिवादी तीस दिन की उक्त अवधि के भीतर लिखित कथन दाखिल करने में असफल रहता है, वहां उसे न्यायालय द्वारा लेखबद्ध किए जाने वाले कारणों और ऐसे खर्चे के संदाय पर जैसा न्यायालय उचित समझे, ऐसे अन्य दिन लिखित कथन दाखिल करने की अनुमति दी जाएगी, जो समन की तामील की तारीख से एक सौ बीस दिन (120 Days) के पश्चात का नहीं होगा तथा एक सौ बीस दिन की समाप्ति पर प्रतिवादी का लिखित कथन दाखिल करने का अधिकार समपहृत (Forfeit) हो जाएगा और न्यायालय लिखित कथन को अभिलेख पर लेने की अनुमति नहीं देगा।