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Saturday, 14 November 2026 Judgments, law jobs and study notes, written by a practising advocate
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · Order VIII: Written Statement, Set-off And Counter Claim

Order VIII Rule 5 CPC: Specific denial

Bare Act text

5. Specific denial.—[(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:

*[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.]

State amendments

Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh (UTs).—

In Rule 5, in sub-rule (1) after first proviso thereto, insert the following proviso, namely:- Provided further, that every allegation of fact in the plaint, if not denied in the manner provided under Rue 3-A of this order, shall be taken to be admitted except as against a person under disability.

[Vide the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, notification No. S.O. 1123(E) dated (18-3-2020) and vide Union Territory of Ladakh Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, Notification No. S.O. 3774(E), dated (23-10-2020)].

Amendment notes

  1. Ins. by Act 4 of 2016, s. 16 and Sch., Shall be applicable to commercial disputes of a specified value (w.e.f. 23-10-2015).
  2. Rule 5 renumbered as sub-rule 1 by Act 104 of 1976, s. 58 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
  3. Ins. by s. 58, ibid. (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

Every allegation of fact in the plaint that is not denied specifically or by necessary implication, or stated to be not admitted, is taken to be admitted, except against a person under disability. The Court may in its discretion require any admitted fact to be proved otherwise. Where the defendant has filed no pleading, the Court may pronounce judgment on the facts in the plaint, though it may require proof. A decree is drawn up bearing the date of judgment.

Order VIII: Written Statement, Set-off And Counter Claim

  1. 1 Written statement
  2. 1A Duty of defendant to produce documents upon which relief is claimed or relied upon by him
  3. 2 New facts must be specially pleaded
  4. 3 Denial to be specific
  5. 4 Evasive denial
  6. 5 Specific denial
  7. 6 Particulars of set-off to be given in written statement
  8. 6A Counter-claim by defendant
  9. 6B Counter-claim to be stated
  10. 6C Exclusion of counter-claim
  11. 6D Effect of discontinuance of suit
  12. 6E Default of plaintiff to reply to counter-claim
  13. 6F Relief to defendant where counter-claim succeeds
  14. 6G Rules relating to written statement to apply
  15. 7 Defence or set-off founded upon separate grounds
  16. 8 New ground of defence
  17. 8A Duty of defendant to produce documents upon which relief is claimed by him (Omitted)
  18. 9 Subsequent pleadings
  19. 10 Procedure when party fails to present written statement called for by Court
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