Judgment and decree
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[ 1. Judgment when pronounced.—3[(1) The Court, after the case has been heard, shall pronounce
judgment in an open Court, either at once, or as soon thereafter as may be practicable and when the
judgment is to be pronounced on some future day, the Court shall fix a day for that purpose, of which due
notice shall be given to the parties or their pleaders:
Provided that where the judgment is not pronounced at once, every endeavour shall be made by the
Court to pronounce the judgment within thirty days from the date on which the hearing of the case was
concluded but, where it is not practicable so to do on the ground of the exceptional and extraordinary
circumstances of the case, the Court shall fix a future day for the pronouncement of the judgment, and
such day shall not ordinarily be a day beyond sixty days from the date on which the hearing of the case
was concluded, and due notice of the day so fixed shall be given to the parties or their pleaders.]
*[(1) The Commercial Court, Commercial Division, or Commercial Appellate Division, as the case
may be, shall, within ninety days of the conclusion of arguments, pronounce judgment and copies thereof
shall be issued to all the parties to the dispute through electronic mail or otherwise.]
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[(2) Where a written judgment is to be pronounced, it shall be sufficient if the findings of the Court
on each issue and the final order passed in the case are read out and it shall not be necessary for the Court
to read out the whole judgment 5***.
(3) The judgment may be pronounced by dictation in open Court to a shorthand writer if the Judge is
specially empowered by the High Court in this behalf:
Provided that, where the judgment is pronounced by dictation in open Court, the transcript of the
judgment so pronounced shall, after making such correction therein as may be necessary, be signed by the
judge, bear the date on which it was pronounced, and form a part of the record.]
2. Power to pronounce judgment written by judge’s predecessor.
6[A Judge shall] pronounce a
judgment written, but not pronounced, by his predecessor.
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3. Judgment to be signed.
The judgment shall be dated and signed by the Judge in open Court at
the time of pronouncing it and, when once signed, shall not afterwards be altered or added, to save as
provided by section 152 or on review.
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4. Judgments of Small Cause Courts.
(1) Judgments of a Court of Small Causes need not contain
more than the points for determination and the decision thereon.
(2) Judgments of other Courts.—Judgments of other Courts shall contain a concise statement of the
case, the points for determination, the decision thereon, and the reasons for such decision.
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5. Court to state its decision on each issue.
In suits in which issues have been framed, the Court
shall state its finding or decision, with the reasons therefor, upon each separate issue, unless the finding
upon any one or more of the issue is sufficient for the decision of the suit.
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[5A. Court to inform parties as to where an appeal lies in cases where parties are not
represented by pleaders.—Except where both the parties are represented by pleaders, the Court shall,
when it pronounces its judgment in a case subject to appeal, inform the parties present in Court as to the
Court to which an appeal lies and the period of limitation for the filing of such appeal and place on record
the information so given to the parties.]
1. Subs. by Act 66 of 1956, s. 14, for rule I (w.e.f. 1-1-1957).
2. The provisions of rules 1, 3, 4 and 5 are not applicable to the Chief Court of Oudh, see the Oudh Courts Act, 1925
(U. P. Act 4 of 1925), s. 16 (2).
3. Subs. by Act 22 of 2002, s. 13, for sub-rule (1) (w.e.f. 1-7-2002), Earlier rule 1 renumbered as sub-rule (1) of that rule
by Act 104 of 1976, s. 70 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
4. Ins. by Act 104 of 1976, s. 70 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
5. Certain words omitted by Act 46 of 1999, s. 28 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
6. Subs. by Act 104 of 1976, s. 70 for “A Judge may” (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
*. Shall be applicable to commercial disputes of a specified value by Act 4 of 2016, s. 16 and the Sch. (w.e.f. 23-10-2015).
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6. Contents of decree.
(1) The decree shall agree with the judgment it shall contain the number of
the suit, the 1[names and descriptions of the parties, their registered addresses,] and particulars of the
claim, and shall specify clearly the relief granted or other determination of the suit.
(2) The decree shall also state the amount of costs incurred in the suit, and by whom or out of what
property and in what proportions such costs are to be paid.
(3) The Court may direct that the costs payable to one party by the other shall be set off against any
sum which is admitted or found to be due from the former to the latter.
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[6A. Preparation of decree.
(1) Every endeavour shall be made to ensure that the decree is drawn
up as expeditiously as possible and, in any case, within fifteen days from the date on which the judgment
is pronounced.
(2) An appeal may be preferred against the decree without filing a copy of the decree and in such a
case the copy made available to the party by the court shall for the purposes of rule 1 of Order XLI be
treated as the decree. But as soon as the decree is drawn, the judgment shall cease to have the effect of a
decree for the purposes of execution or for any other purpose.
6B. Copies of judgments when to be made available.
Where the judgment is pronounced, copies of
the judgment shall be made available to the parties immediately after the pronouncement of the judgment
for preferring an appeal on payment of such charges as may be specified in the rule made by the High
Court.]
7. Date of decree.
The decree shall bear the day on which the judgment was pronounced, and, when
the judge has satisfied himself that the decree has been drawn up in accordance with the judgment, he
shall sign the decree.
8. Procedure where Judge has vacated office before signing decree.
Where a Judge has vacated
office after pronouncing judgment but without signing the decree, a decree drawn up in accordance with
such judgment may be signed by his successor or, if the Court has ceased to exist, by the Judge of any
Court to which such Court was subordinate.
9. Decree for recovery of immovable property.
Where the subject-matter of the suit is immovable
property, the decree shall contain a description of such property sufficient to identify the same, and where
such property can be identified by boundaries or by numbers in a record of settlement or survey, the
decree shall specify such boundaries or numbers.
10. Decree for delivery of movable property.
Where the suit is for movable property, and the
decree is for the delivery of such property, the decree shall also state the amount of money to be paid as
an alternative if delivery cannot be had.
11. Decree may direct payment by instalments.
(1) Where and in so far as a decree is for the
payment of money, the Court may for any sufficient reason 3[incorporate in the decree, after hearing such
of the parties who had appeared personally or by pleader at the last hearing, before judgment, an order
that] payment of the amount decreed shall be postponed or shall be made by instalments, with or without
interest, notwithstanding anything contained in the contract under which the money is payable.
(2) Order, after decree, for payment by instalments.—After the passing of any such decree the Court
may, on the application of the judgment-debtor and with the consent of the decree-holder, order that payment
of the amount decreed shall be postponed or shall be made by instalments on such terms as to the payment of
interest, the attachment of the property of the judgment-debtor, or the taking of security from him, or
otherwise, as it thinks fit.
12. Decree for possession and mesne profits.
(1) Where a suit is for the recovery of possession of
immovable property and for rent or mesne profits, the Court may pass a decree—
(a) for the possession of the property;
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[(b) for the rents which have accrued on the property during the period prior to the institution of
the suit or directing an inquiry as to such rent.
1. Subs. by Act 104 of 1976, s. 70, for “names and descriptions of the parties” (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
2. Subs. by Act 46 of 1999, s. 28, for rules 6A and 6B (w.e.f. 1-7-2002).
3. Subs. by Act 104 of 1976, s. 70, for certain words (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
4. Subs. by s. 70, ibid., for cl. (b) (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
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(ba) for the mesne profits or directing an inquiry as to such mesne profits;]
(c) directing an inquiry as to rent or mesne profits from the institution of the suit until—
(i) the delivery of possession to the decree-holder,
(ii) the relinquishment of possession by the judgment-debtor with notice to the decree-holder
through the Court, or
(iii) the expiration of three years from the date of the decree,
whichever, event first occurs.
(2) Where an inquiry is directed under clause (b) or clause (c), a final decree in respect of the rent or
mesne profits shall be passed in accordance with the result of such inquiry.
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[12A. Decree for specific performance of contract for the sale or lease of immovable property.
Where a decree for the specific performance of a contract for the sale or lease of immovable property orders
that the purchase-money or other sum be paid by the purchaser or lessee, it shall specify the period within
which the payment shall be made.]
13. Decree in administration suit.
(1) Where a suit is for an account of any property and for its due
administration under the decree of the Court, the Court shall, before passing the final decree, pass a
preliminary decree ordering such accounts and inquiries to be taken and made, and giving such other
directions as it thinks fit.
(2) In the administration by the Court of the property of any deceased person, if such property proves
to be insufficient for the payment in full of his debts and liabilities, the same rules shall be observed as to
the respective rights of secured and unsecured creditors and as to debts and liabilities provable, and as to
the valuation of annuities and future and contingent liabilities respectively, as may be in force for the time
being, within the local limits of the Court in which the administration-suit is pending with respect to the
estates of persons adjudged or declared insolvent; and all persons who in any such case would be entitled
to be paid out of such property, may come in under the preliminary decree, and make such claims against
the same as they may respectively be entitled to by virtue of this Code.
14. Decree in pre-emption suit.
(1) Where the Court decrees a claim to pre-emption in respect of a
particular sale of property and the purchase-money has not been paid into Court, the decree shall—
(a) specify a day on or before which the purchase-money shall be so paid, and
(b) direct that on payment into Court of such purchase-money, together with the costs (if any)
decrees against the plaintiff, on or before the day referred to in clause (a), the defendant shall deliver
possession of the property to the plaintiff, whose title thereto shall be deemed to have accrued from
the date of such payment, but that, if the purchase-money and the costs (if any) are not so paid, the
suit shall be dismissed with costs.
(2) Where the Court has adjudicated upon rival claims to pre-emption, the decree shall direct,—
(a) if and in so far as the claims decreed are equal in decree, that the claim of each pre-emptor
complying with the provisions of sub-rule (1) shall take effect in respect of a proportionate share of
the property including any proportionate share in respect of which the claim of any pre-emptor failing
to comply with the said provisions would, but for such default, have taken effect; and
(b) if and in so far as the claims decreed are different in degree, that the claim of the inferior preemptor shall not take effect unless and until the superior pre-emptor has failed to comply with the
said provisions.
15. Decree in suit for dissolution of partnership.
Where a suit is for the dissolution of a partnership,
or the taking of partnership accounts, the Court, before passing a final decree, may pass a preliminary
decree declaring the proportionate shares of the parties, fixing the day on which the partnership shall stand
dissolved or be deemed to have been dissolved, and directing such accounts to be taken, and other acts to
be done, as it thinks fit.
16. Decree in suit for account between principal and agent.
In a suit for an account of pecuniary
transactions between a principal and an agent, and in any other suit not hereinbefore provided for, where it is
necessary, in order to ascertain the amount of money due to or from any party, that an account should be taken,
1. Ins. by Act 104 of 1976, s. 70 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
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the Court shall, before passing its final decree, pass a preliminary decree directing such accounts to be
taken as it thinks fit.
17. Special directions as to accounts.
The Court may either by the decree directing an account to be
taken or by any subsequent order give special direction with regard to the mode in which the account is to
be taken or vouched and in particular may direct that in taking the account the books of account in which the
accounts in question have been kept shall be taken as prima facie evidence of the truth of the matters therein
contained with liberty to the parties interested to take such objection thereto as they may be advised.
18. Decree in suit for partition of property or separate possession of a share therein.
Where the
Court passes a decree for the partition of property or for the separate possession of a share therein, then,—
(1) if and in so far as the decree relates to an estate assessed to the payment of revenue to the
Government, the decree shall declare the rights of the several parties interested in the property, but
shall direct such partition or separation to be made by the Collector, or any gazetted subordinate of
the Collector deputed by him in this behalf, in accordance with such declaration and with the
provisions of section 54;
(2) if and in so far as such decree relates to any other immovable property or to movable property,
the Court may, if the partition or separation cannot be conveniently made without further inquiry,
pass a preliminary decree declaring the rights of the several parties interested in the property and
giving such further directions as may be required.
19. Decree when set-off or counter-claim is allowed.
(1) Where the defendant has been allowed a
set-off 1[or counter-claim] against the claim of the plaintiff, the decree shall state what amount is due to
the plaintiff and what amount is due to the defendant, and shall be for the recovery of any sum which
appears to be due to either party.
(2) Appeal from decree relating to set-off or counter-claim.—Any decree passed in a suit in which
a set-off 1[or counter-claim] is claimed shall be subject to the same provisions in respect of appeal to
which it would have been subject if no set-off 1[or counter-claim] had been claimed.
(3) The provisions of this rule shall apply whether the set-off is admissible under rule 6 of Order VIII
or otherwise.
20. Certified copies of judgment and decree to be furnished.
Certified copies of the judgment
and decree shall be furnished to the parties on application to the Court, and at their expense.
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[ORDER XXA
Costs
1. Provisions relating to certain items.
Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of this
Code relating to costs, the Court may award costs in respect of,—
(a) expenditure incurred for the giving of any notice required to be given by law before the
institution of the suit;
(b) expenditure incurred on any notice which, though not required to be given by law, has been
given by any party to the suit to any other party before the institution of the suit;
(c) expenditure incurred on the typing, writing or printing of pleadings filed by any party;
(d) charges paid by a party for inspection of the records of the Court for the purposes of the suit;
(e) expenditure incurred by a party for producing witnesses, even though not summoned through
Court; and
(f) in the case of appeals, charges incurred by a party for obtaining any copies of judgments and
decrees which are required to be filed along with the memorandum of appeal.
2. Costs to be awarded in accordance with the rules made by High Court.
The award of Costs
under this rule shall be in accordance with such rules as the High Court may make in that behalf.]
1. Ins. by Act 104 of 1976, s. 70 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
2. Ins. by s. 71, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
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