Stages Of Civil Suit/Trial as per Civil Procedure Code, 1908

Introduction 

A civil suit is basically a dispute that arises between individuals in a personal capacity i.e Partition, Property etc or organization in commercial matters. If the civil dispute in a personal capacity, that is governed by the Code of Civil  Procedure, 1908 and if the civil dispute is in commercial matters then Commercial Court Act also plays a very important role.    

Civil Suits are divided into i) Suits of a civil nature and ii) Suits not of a civil nature. The Civil courts have jurisdiction to try suits of a civil nature. They have no jurisdiction to try suits, not of a Civil-nature. This principle is laid down in Sn.9 of C.RC. It says that the Civil Courts have jurisdiction
to try all suits of a civil nature excepting those that are expressly or impliedly barred.

18 Stages Of Civil Suit as per Civil Procedure Code, 1908 are as under

1. Presentation of plaint:-

The Presentation of a plant is the first step of all the civil proceedings in India. A case in a court is instituted by the filing of the plaint. The expression “plaint” has not been defined in the act. However, it can be said to be a statement of claim, a document by the presentation of which the suit is instituted. 

Section 26 and Order VII deals with Institution of Suits: 

Every suit shall be instituted by the presentation of a plaint or in such other manner as me be prescribed. And Order VII deals with the contents of Plaint such as mentioned herein below:-

• Particulars
• Name of the Court 
• Details of the Party
• Facts of the Dispute involved between the party
• Relief Sort
• Jurisdiction
• The Documents on which the party is relying upon.

2. Service of summons on the defendant: 

After the plaint is filed, the court may accept or reject the plaint, if the court accepts the plaint, the summon will be issued under Section 27 of CPC, 1908 to the defendant asking him to appear with a legal representative and answer the claim and court to defend it. The intimation which is sent to the defendant by the court is known as a “Summons”. 

3. Filing of Written Submission 

The defendant needs to present a written submission within 30 days from the date of summoning has issued against him(s.27). In case he failed to file a written Statement (WS) within the specified time he needs to seek permission from the court to file it later but it is not beyond 90 days.    

3. Appearance of parties
4. Ex-parte Decree
5. Interlocutory Proceedings
6. Filing of written statement by defendant
7. Production of documents by parties (plaintiff and defendant)
8. Examination of parties9. Discovery and Inspection

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