Procedure when only plaintiff appears
Full Text
(1) Where the plaintiff appears and the defendant does not appear when the suit is called on for hearing, then—
(a) When summons duly served.—if it is proved that the summons was duly served, the Court may make an order that the suit shall be heard ex parte;
(b) When summons not duly served.—if it is not proved that the summons was duly served, the Court shall direct a second summons to be issued and served on the defendant;
(c) When summons served but not in due time.—if it is proved that the summons was served on the defendant, but not in sufficient time to enable him to appear and answer on the day fixed in the summons, the Court shall postpone the hearing of the suit to a future day to be fixed by the Court, and shall direct notice of such day to be given to the defendant.
(2) Where it is owing to the plaintiff's default that the summons was not duly served or was not served in sufficient time, the Court shall order the plaintiff to pay the costs occasioned by the postponement.
Plain English Summary
Governs procedure when only the plaintiff appears on the hearing date: if service is proved, the court proceeds ex parte; if not proved, second summons issues; if served without sufficient time, hearing is postponed.
Key Legal Elements
- Prerequisite of Due Service: Proceeding ex parte under clause (a) requires strict legal proof that summons was duly served under Order V.
- Ex Parte Order Discretion: Court 'may' make an order that the suit be heard ex parte.
- Re-issuance of Process: Clause (b) mandates fresh summons if service is not affirmatively established.
- Insufficient Notice Postponement: Clause (c) protects defendants who received notice without reasonable opportunity to travel or engage counsel.
- Cost Sanctions: Court can penalize plaintiff if delay or defect was caused by plaintiff's lapse.
Practical Note
Moving the Court for Ex Parte Proceedings: 1. Establishing Due Service: Counsel for plaintiff must examine the process server's affidavit, speed post delivery tracking report, or registered post acknowledgment card (A.D. card) and present it: 'Process server report along with speed post tracking shows confirmed delivery on [Date]. More than 30 days have elapsed. Summons is duly served under Order V. Pray for proceeding ex parte under Order IX Rule 6(1)(a) CPC'. 2. Supreme Court Ruling in Sangram Singh v. Election Tribunal (AIR 1955 SC 425): An ex parte order does not mean the defendant is banned from court forever; it only means the court proceeds in his absence from that day forward.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) जहां वाद की सुनवाई के लिए पुकार होने पर वादी उपसंजात होता है और प्रतिवादी उपसंजात नहीं होता है, वहां—
(क) जब समन की सम्यक् तामील हुई हो।—यदि यह साबित हो जाता है कि समन की सम्यक् तामील हुई थी, तो न्यायालय यह आदेश कर सकेगा कि वाद की एकपक्षीय (Ex Parte) सुनवाई की जाए;
(ख) जब समन की सम्यक् तामील न हुई हो।—यदि यह साबित नहीं होता है कि समन की सम्यक् तामील हुई थी, तो न्यायालय निदेश देगा कि दूसरा समन जारी किया जाए और उसकी तामील प्रतिवादी पर कराई जाए;
(ग) जब समन की तामील हुई हो किंतु सम्यक् समय पर न हुई हो।—यदि यह साबित हो जाता है कि प्रतिवादी पर समन की तामील तो हुई थी किंतु इतने पर्याप्त समय पूर्व नहीं हुई थी जिससे कि वह नियत दिन उपसंजात हो सके और उत्तर दे सके, तो न्यायालय वाद की सुनवाई को भविष्य के दिन के लिए स्थगित करेगा और निदेश देगा कि ऐसे दिन की सूचना प्रतिवादी को दी जाए।
(2) जहां वादी के व्यतिक्रम के कारण समन की सम्यक् तामील नहीं हुई थी या पर्याप्त समय पूर्व नहीं हुई थी, वहां न्यायालय वादी को यह आदेश देगा कि वह स्थगन के कारण हुए खर्चे का संदाय करे।