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Friday, 13 November 2026 Judgments, law jobs and study notes, written by a practising advocate
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · Order XXVII: Suits By Or Against The Government Or Public Officers In Their Official Capacity

Order XXVII Rule 4 CPC: Agent for Government to receive process

Bare Act text

[4. Agent for Government to receive process.—The Government pleader in any Court shall be the agent of the Government for the purpose of receiving processes against the Government issued by such Court].

Amendment notes

  1. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for rule 4.

Text of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act No. 5 of 1908), First Schedule, as amended, including the changes for commercial disputes made by the Commercial Courts Act, 2015. Source: India Code, Government of India.

In simple words

The Government pleader in any Court is the agent of the Government for the purpose of receiving processes against the Government issued by that Court. Service of summons or other process on the Government in a suit is thus effected on the Government pleader, and no other person need be sought out as the Government's agent for receiving process.

Order XXVII: Suits By Or Against The Government Or Public Officers In Their Official Capacity

  1. 1 Suits by or against Government
  2. 2 Persons authorised to act for Government
  3. 3 Plaints in suits by or against Government
  4. 4 Agent for Government to receive process
  5. 5 Fixing of day for appearance on behalf of Government
  6. 5A Government to be joined as a party in a suit against a public officer
  7. 5B Duty of Court in suits against the Government or a public officer to assist in arriving at a settlement
  8. 6 Attendance of person able to answer questions relating to suit against Government
  9. 7 Extension of time to enable public officer to make reference to Government
  10. 8 Procedure in suits against public officer
  11. 8A No security to be required from Government or a public officer in certain cases
  12. 8B Definitions of “Government” and “Government pleader”
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