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Friday, 13 November 2026 Judgments, law jobs and study notes, written by a practising advocate
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · Part I: Suits In General

Section 10 CPC: Stay of suit

Bare Act text

10. Stay of suit.—No Court shall proceed with the trial of any suit in which the matter in issue is also directly and substantially in issue in a previously instituted suit between the same parties, or between parties under whom they or any of them claim litigating under the same title where such suit is pending in the same or any other Court in [India] have jurisdiction to grant the relief claimed, or in any Court beyond the limits of [India] established or continued by [the Central Government * * * .] and having like jurisdiction, or before [the Supreme Court].

Explanation.—The pendency of a suit in a foreign Court does not preclude the Courts in [India] from trying a suit founded on the same cause of action.

Amendment notes

  1. Subs. by Act 2 of 1951, s. 3, for “the States” (w.e.f. 1-4-1951).
  2. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “the G.G. in C”.
  3. The words “or the Crown Representative” omitted by the A.O. 1948.
  4. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “His Majesty in Council”.

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

In simple words

No Court shall proceed with the trial of a suit in which the matter in issue is also directly and substantially in issue in a previously instituted suit between the same parties, or parties claiming under them under the same title. The earlier suit must be pending in the same or another Court in India with jurisdiction to grant the relief, or before the Supreme Court. The pendency of a suit in a foreign Court does not bar a suit on the same cause of action.

Part I: Suits In General

  1. 9 Courts to try all civil suits unless barred
  2. 10 Stay of suit
  3. 11 Res judicata
  4. 12 Bar to further suit
  5. 13 When foreign judgment not conclusive
  6. 14 Presumption as to foreign judgments
  7. 15 Court in which suits to be instituted
  8. 16 Suits to be instituted where subject-matter situate
  9. 17 Suits for immovable property situate within jurisdiction of different Courts
  10. 18 Place of Institution of suit where local limits of jurisdiction of Courts are uncertain
  11. 19 Suits for compensation for wrongs to person or movables
  12. 20 Other suits to be instituted where defendants reside or cause of action arises
  13. 21 Objections to jurisdiction
  14. 21A Bar on suit to set aside decree on objection as to place of suing
  15. 22 Power to transfer suits which may be instituted in more than one Court
  16. 23 To what Court application lies
  17. 24 General power of transfer and withdrawal
  18. 25 Power of Supreme Court to transfer suits, etc
  19. 26 Institution of suits
  20. 27 Summons to defendants
  21. 28 Service of summons where defendant resides in another State
  22. 29 Service of foreign summonses
  23. 30 Power to order discovery and the like
  24. 31 Summons to witness
  25. 32 Penalty for default
  26. 33 Judgment and decree
  27. 34 Interest
  28. 35 Costs
  29. 35A Compensatory costs in respect of false or vexatious claims or defences
  30. 35B Costs for causing delay
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