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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 XXXIII: Suits By Indigent Persons

Order XXXIII Rule 7 CPC: Procedure at hearing

Bare Act text

7. Procedure at hearing.—(1) On the day so fixed or as soon thereafter as may be convenient the Court shall examine the witnesses (if any) produced by either party, and may examine the applicant or his agent, and shall may [a full record of their evidence].

[(1A) The examination of the witnesses under sub-rule (1) shall be confined to the matters specified in clause (b), clause (c) and clause (e) of rule 5 but the examination of the applicant or his agent may relate to any of the matters specified in rule 5.]

(2) The Court shall also hear any argument which the parties may desire to offer on the question whether, on the face of the application and of the evidence (if any) taken by the Court [under rule 6 or under this rule], the applicant is or is not subject to any of the prohibitions specified in rule 5.

(3) The Court shall then either allow or refuse to allow the applicant to sue as [an indigent person].

Amendment notes

  1. Ins. by Act 104 of 1976, s. 81 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
  2. The provisions of this rule so far as it relates to the making of a memorandum are not applicable to the Chief Court of Oudh, see Oudh Courts Act, 1925 (U.P. Act 4 of 1925), s. 16 (2).
  3. Subs. by s. 81, ibid., for “a memorandum of the substance of their evidence” (w.e.f. 1 -2-1977).
  4. Subs. by s. 81, ibid., for “as herein provided” (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).

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

On the fixed day, or soon after, the Court examines the witnesses produced by either side, may examine the applicant or his agent, and makes a full record of their evidence. Witnesses' examination is confined to clauses (b), (c) and (e) of rule 5, while the applicant's examination may cover any rule 5 matter. The Court hears arguments on whether, on the application and the evidence, the applicant is barred by rule 5, and then allows or refuses permission to sue as an indigent person.

Order XXXIII: Suits By Indigent Persons

  1. 1 Suits may be instituted by indigent persons
  2. 1A Inquiry into the means of an indigent person
  3. 2 Contents of application
  4. 3 Presentation of application
  5. 4 Examination of applicant
  6. 5 Rejection of application
  7. 6 Notice of day for receiving evidence of applicant’s indigency
  8. 7 Procedure at hearing
  9. 8 Procedure if application admitted
  10. 9 Withdrawal of permission to sue as an indigent person
  11. 9A Court to assign a pleader to an unrepresented indigent person
  12. 10 Costs where indigent person succeeds
  13. 11 Procedure where indigent person fails
  14. 11A Procedure where indigent person’s suit abates
  15. 12 State Government may apply for payment of court-fees
  16. 13 State Government to be deemed a party
  17. 14 Recovery of amount of court-fees
  18. 15 Refusal to allow applicant to sue as an indigent person to bar subsequent application of like nature
  19. 15A Grant of time for payment of court-fee
  20. 16 Costs
  21. 17 Defence by an indigent person
  22. 18 Power of Government to provide for free legal services to indigent persons