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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 IV: Suits In Particular Cases

Section 84 CPC: When foreign States may sue

Bare Act text

84. When foreign States may sue.—A foreign State may sue in any competent Court:

Provided that the object of the suit is to enforce a private right vested in the Ruler of such State or in any officer of such State in his public capacity.

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

A foreign State may sue in any competent Court. The proviso limits this to suits whose object is to enforce a private right vested in the Ruler of that State or in an officer of that State in his public capacity.

Part IV: Suits In Particular Cases

  1. 79 Suits by or against Government
  2. 80 Notice
  3. 81 Exemption from arrest and personal appearance
  4. 82 Execution of decree
  5. 83 When aliens may sue
  6. 84 When foreign States may sue
  7. 85 Persons specially appointed by Government to prosecute or defend on behalf of foreign Rulers
  8. 86 Suits against foreign Rulers, Ambassadors and Envoys
  9. 87 Style of foreign Rulers as parties to suits
  10. 87A Definitions of “foreign State” and “Rulers”
  11. 87B Application of sections 85 and 86 to Rulers of former Indian States
  12. 88 Where interpleader-suit may be instituted
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