Specific denial
Full Text
(1) Every allegation of fact in the plaint, if not denied specifically or by necessary implication, or stated to be not admitted in the pleading of the defendant, shall be taken to be admitted except as against a person under disability:
Provided that the Court may in its discretion require any fact so admitted to be proved otherwise than by such admission:
*[Commercial Courts Act Proviso] Provided further that every allegation of fact in the plaint, if not denied in the manner provided under Rule 3A of this Order, shall be taken to be admitted except as against a person under disability.
(2) Where the defendant has not filed a pleading, it shall be lawful for the court to pronounce judgment on the basis of the facts contained in the plaint, except as against a person under a disability, but the Court may, in its discretion, require any such fact to be proved.
(3) In exercising its discretion under the proviso to sub-rule (1) or under sub-rule (2), the Court shall have due regard to the fact whether the defendant could have, or has, engaged a pleader.
(4) Whenever a judgment is pronounced under this rule, a decree shall be drawn up in accordance with such judgment and such decree shall bear the date on which the judgment was pronounced.
Plain English Summary
Enacts the fundamental 'Doctrine of Non-Traverse', whereby every un-traversed or vaguely denied factual averment in the plaint is deemed in law to be admitted by the defendant, empowering the court to pronounce judgment on admissions.
Key Legal Elements
- Doctrine of Non-Traverse (Sub-rule 1): Silence or general denial equals legal admission.
- Disability Exemption: Does not operate against minors or persons of unsound mind.
- Judicial Proviso Discretion: Court can still call upon plaintiff to lead formal proof despite deemed admission.
- Judgment without Written Statement (Sub-rule 2): Court can pronounce judgment on the basis of plaint averments if no WS is filed.
- Decree Drawn Up: Formal decree prepared bearing the judgment date.
Practical Note
The Doctrine of Non-Traverse & Passing Judgment: 1. Supreme Court Landmark - Balraj Taneja v. Sunil Madan (1999) 8 SCC 396: Supreme Court ruled that while failure to file a written statement empowers the court under Rule 5(2) and Rule 10 to pronounce judgment, the court cannot act blindly. The court must satisfy itself that the plaint discloses a lawful cause of action, and that there is no legal impediment to decreeing the claim. 2. Inadvertent Admissions: If a defendant's advocate fails to specifically deny paragraph 5 of the plaint, that fact is conclusively admitted. It is nearly impossible to withdraw an admission later under Order VI Rule 17. 3. Plaintiff's Motion for Judgment: 'Application on behalf of Plaintiff under Order VIII Rule 5(2) read with Order VIII Rule 10 CPC for Pronouncement of Judgment against Defendant No. 1 on Admissions / Failure to File Written Statement'.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) वादपत्र में तथ्य का प्रत्येक अभिकथन, यदि प्रतिवादी के अभिवचन में विनिर्दिष्ट रूप से अथवा आवश्यक विवक्षा से उसका इनकार नहीं किया गया है अथवा उसका स्वीकार न किया जाना कथित नहीं किया गया है, तो निर्योग्यता के अधीन व्यक्ति के विरुद्ध के सिवाय, स्वीकृत (Admitted) मान लिया जाएगा (Doctrine of Non-Traverse):
परन्तु न्यायालय स्वविवेक से इस प्रकार स्वीकृत किसी तथ्य को ऐसी स्वीकृति से अन्यथा साबित किए जाने की अपेक्षा कर सकेगा:
*[वाणिज्यिक न्यायालय अधिनियम परंतुक] परन्तु यह और कि वादपत्र में तथ्य का प्रत्येक अभिकथन, यदि इस आदेश के नियम 3क के अधीन उपबंधित रीति से उसका इनकार नहीं किया गया है, तो निर्योग्यता के अधीन व्यक्ति के सिवाय, स्वीकृत मान लिया जाएगा।
(2) जहां प्रतिवादी ने अभिवचन दाखिल नहीं किया है, वहां न्यायालय के लिए वादपत्र में अंतर्विष्ट तथ्यों के आधार पर निर्णय सुनाना विधिपूर्ण होगा, किंतु न्यायालय स्वविवेक से किसी तथ्य को साबित किए जाने की अपेक्षा कर सकेगा।
(3) न्यायालय इस बात का सम्यक् ध्यान रखेगा कि क्या प्रतिवादी किसी प्लीडर को नियुक्त कर सकता था या उसने नियुक्त किया है।
(4) निर्णय के अनुसार डिक्री तैयार की जाएगी।