Denial by the defendant in suits before the Commercial Division of the High Court or the Commercial Court
Full Text
(1) Denial shall be in the manner provided in sub-rules (2), (3), (4) and (5) of this Rule.
(2) The defendant in his written statement shall state which of the allegations in the particulars of plaint he denies, which allegations he is unable to admit or deny, but which he requires the plaintiff to prove, and which allegations he admits.
(3) Where the defendant denies an allegation of fact in a plaint, he must state his reasons for doing so and if he intends to put forward a different version of events from that given by the plaintiff, he must state his own version.
(4) If the defendant disputes the jurisdiction of the Court he must state the reasons for doing so, and if he is able, give his own statement as to which Court ought to have jurisdiction.
(5) If the defendant disputes the plaintiff’s valuation of the suit, he must state his reasons for doing so, and if he is able, give his own statement of the value of the suit.
Plain English Summary
Enforces a rigorous four-category regime for defense pleadings in commercial disputes under the Commercial Courts Act, 2015, mandating positive reasons for denial, affirmative alternative counter-narratives, and specific statements on jurisdiction and valuation.
Key Legal Elements
- Tripartite Classification (Sub-rule 2): (1) Allegations denied; (2) Allegations requiring proof; (3) Allegations admitted.
- Mandatory Reasons for Denial (Sub-rule 3): Cannot simply deny; MUST give factual reasons.
- Own Version Mandate: Must set forth the positive counter-narrative of transactions.
- Specific Jurisdiction & Valuation Statements (Sub-rules 4 & 5): Must state which court has jurisdiction and what the true valuation should be.
Practical Note
Commercial Court Drafting Protocol: Commercial judges penalize bald denials. If plaintiff claims delivery of goods on 15th March, defendant cannot just deny delivery; defendant must state why (e.g., 'Goods were rejected at factory gate vide rejection memo dated 15th March due to defects').
हिंदी पाठ
(1) इनकार इस नियम के उपनियम (2), (3), (4) और (5) में उपबंधित रीति से किया जाएगा।
(2) प्रतिवादी अपने लिखित कथन में यह कथित करेगा कि वह वादपत्र की विशिष्टियों में के किन अभिकथनों से इनकार करता है, किन अभिकथनों को वह स्वीकार या इनकार करने में असमर्थ है किंतु जिन्हें वह साबित करने की वादी से अपेक्षा करता है, और किन अभिकथनों को वह स्वीकार करता है।
(3) जहां प्रतिवादी किसी तथ्यात्मक अभिकथन से इनकार करता है, वहां उसे ऐसा करने के अपने कारण बताने होंगे और यदि वह अपनी अलग घटना-श्रृंखला प्रस्तुत करना चाहता है तो उसे अपना स्वयं का संस्करण (Own version) कथित करना होगा।
(4) यदि अधिकारिता पर विवाद है, तो कारण और यह कथन देना होगा कि किस न्यायालय को अधिकारिता होनी चाहिए।
(5) यदि मूल्यांकन पर विवाद है, तो कारण और स्वयं का मूल्यांकन देना होगा।