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Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · Order VII: Plaint

Order VII Rule 10A CPC: Power of Court to fix a date of appearance in the Court where plaint is to be filed after its return

Bare Act text

[10A. Power of Court to fix a date of appearance in the Court where plaint is to be filed after its return.—(1) Where, in any suit, after the defendant has appeared, the Court is of opinion that the plaint should be returned, it shall, before doing so, intimate its decision to the plaintiff.]

(2) Where an intimation is given to the plaintiff under sub-rule (1), the plaintiff may make an application to the Court—

(a) specifying the Court in which he proposes to present the plaint after its return,

(b) praying that the Court may fix a date for the appearance of the parties in the said Court, and

(c) requesting that the notice of the date so fixed may be given to him and to the defendant.

(3) Where an application is made by the plaintiff under sub-rule (2), the Court shall, before returning the plaint and notwithstanding that the order for return of plaint was made by it on the ground that it has no jurisdiction to try the suit,—

(a) fix a date for the appearance of the parties in the Court in which the plaint is proposed to be presented, and

(b) give to the plaintiff and to the defendant notice of such date for appearance.

(4) Where the notice of the date for appearance is given under sub-rule (3),—

(a) it shall not be necessary for the Court in which the plaint is presented after its return, to serve the defendant with a summons for appearance in the suit, unless that Court, for reasons to be recorded, otherwise directs, and

(b) the said notice shall be deemed to be a summons for the appearance of the defendant in the Court in which the plaint is presented on the date so fixed by the Court by which the plaint was returned.

(5) Where the application made by the plaintiff under sub-rule (2) is allowed by the Court, the plaintiff shall not be entitled to appeal against the order returning the plaint.

Amendment notes

  1. Ins. by Act 104 of 1976, s. 57. (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

Where, after the defendant has appeared, the Court is of opinion that the plaint should be returned, it must first tell the plaintiff its decision. The plaintiff may then apply, naming the Court where he proposes to present the plaint, asking the Court to fix a date for the parties' appearance there. The Court must fix the date and give notice to both sides, and that notice serves as the summons. If the application is allowed, no appeal lies against the return order. Inserted in 1976.

Order VII: Plaint

  1. 1 Particulars to be contained in plaint
  2. 2 In money suits
  3. 3 Where the subject-matter of the suit is immovable property
  4. 4 When plaintiff sues as representative
  5. 5 Defendant’s interest and liability to be shown
  6. 6 Grounds of exemption from limitation law
  7. 7 Relief to be specifically stated
  8. 8 Relief founded on separate grounds
  9. 9 Procedure on admitting plaint
  10. 10 Return of plaint
  11. 10A Power of Court to fix a date of appearance in the Court where plaint is to be filed after its return
  12. 10B Power of appellate Court to transfer suit to the proper Court
  13. 11 Rejection of plaint
  14. 12 Procedure on rejecting plaint
  15. 13 Where rejection of plaint does not preclude presentation of fresh plaint
  16. 14 Production of document on which plaintiff sues or relies
  17. 15 Statement in case of documents not in plaintiff’s possession or powers (Omitted)
  18. 16 Suits on lost negotiable instruments
  19. 17 Production of shop-book
  20. 18 Inadmissibility of document not produced when plaint filed (Omitted)