New facts must be specially pleaded
Full Text
The defendant must raise by his pleading all matters which show the suit not be maintainable, or that the transaction is either void or voidable in point of law, and all such grounds of defence as, if not raised, would be likely to take the opposite party by surprise, or would raise issues of fact not arising out of the plaint, as, for instance, fraud, limitation, release, payment, performance, or facts showing illegality.
Plain English Summary
Mandates that the defendant must specifically plead all affirmative defenses—such as maintainability bars, voidness, fraud, limitation, release, discharge, payment, or illegality—to avoid taking the plaintiff by surprise at trial.
Key Legal Elements
- Rule against Trial by Surprise: Defendant cannot raise unexpected affirmative factual defenses at the trial stage without pleading them.
- Exemplified Affirmative Defenses: Fraud, limitation bar, release/waiver, discharge/payment, contract performance, illegality under Section 23 Contract Act.
- Non-Maintainability Pleas: Statutory bars under special laws (e.g., Sec. 69 Partnership Act, Sec. 34 SARFAESI Act, Sec. 85 Waqf Act) must be specifically pleaded.
Practical Note
Drafting Preliminary Objections in Written Statement: 1. Dedicated Preliminary Objections Section: Always structure the Written Statement with a dedicated 'Preliminary Objections' section covering: (i) non-maintainability under Section 69 Partnership Act / Section 9 CPC; (ii) limitation bar under Article [X] Limitation Act; (iii) full discharge / settlement / accord and satisfaction. 2. Inadmissibility without Pleading: If defendant fails to plead payment or discharge in the WS, the court will refuse to frame an issue or allow evidence on payment under Trojan & Co. rules.
हिंदी पाठ
प्रतिवादी को अपने अभिवचन द्वारा उन सभी विषयों को उठाना होगा जिनसे यह दर्शित हो कि वाद पोषणीय (Maintainable) नहीं है, अथवा संव्यवहार विधि की दृष्टि में या तो शून्य (Void) है या शून्यकरणीय (Voidable) है, तथा प्रतिरक्षा के ऐसे सभी आधार उठाने होंगे, जो यदि न उठाए जाएं तो विरोधी पक्षकार को चकित (Surprise) कर सकते हों अथवा जिनसे तथ्य के ऐसे विवाद्यक उत्पन्न होते हों जो वादपत्र से उत्पन्न नहीं होते, जैसे कपट, परिसीमा, उन्मोचन, संदाय, पालन, अथवा अवैधता को दर्शित करने वाले तथ्य।