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Supreme Court of India
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Civil Law
Bare Acts
The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
Order I-XLVI
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Order XLVI
Section XXVII- SUITS BY OR AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OR PUBLIC OFFICERS IN THEIR OFFICIAL CAPACITY (THE FIRST SCHEDULE)

Suits by or against Government

In any suit by or against the Government the plaint or written statement shall be signed by such person as the Government may, by general or special order, appoint in this behalf, and shall be verified by any person whom the Government may so appoint and who is acquainted with the facts of the case.

STATE AMENDMENTS

Uttar Pradesh.-In the marginal heading of the Order, after the words "official capacity", insert the words "or Statutory Authorities, etc." [U.P. Act 57 of 1976].
Persons authorised to act for Government

Persons being ex officio or otherwise authorised to act for the Government in respect of any judicial proceeding shall be deemed to be the recognised agents by whom appearances, act and applications under this Code may be made or done on behalf of the Government.
Plaints in suits by or against Government

In suits by or *[against the Government] instead of inserting in the plaint the name and description and place of residence of the plaintiff or defendant, it shall be sufficient to insert *[the appropriate name as provided in section 79. **[* * *]]

*Subs. A.O. 1937, for "against the Secretary of State for India in Council".

**Certain words omitted by the A.O. 1948.
*Agent for Government to receive process

The Government pleader in any Court shall be the agent of the Government for the purpose of receiving processes against the Government issued by such Court.]

*Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for rule 4.
Fixing of day for appearance on behalf of Government

The Court, in fixing the day for the Government to answer to the plaint, shall allow a reasonable time for the necessary communication with the Government through the proper channel, and for the issue of instructions to the Government pleader to appear and answer on behalf of the Government and may extend the time at its discretion [but the time so extended shall not exceed two months in the aggregate.]

HIGH COURT AMENDMENTS

Andhra Pradesh.-Same as in Madras.

Karnataka.-In Order XXVII, in rule 5, after the words "instructions to the Government pleader", insert the words "or recognised agents of the Government".

Kerala.-Same as in Madras.

Madras.-In Order XXVII, in rule 5, for the words "a reasonable time", substitute the words "not less than three months' time from the date of summons".
*Government to be joined as a party in a suit against a public officer

Where a suit is instituted against a public officer for damages or other relief in respect of any act alleged to have been done by him in his official capacity, the Government shall be joined as a party to the suit.

* Ins. by Act No. 104 of 1976, sec. 76 (w.e.f. 1-2-2024).
Duty of Court in suits against the Government or a public officer to assist in arriving at a settlement

(1) In every suit or proceeding to which the Government, or a public officer acting in his official capacity, is a party, it shall be the duty of the Court to make, in the first instance, every endeavour, where it is possible to do so consistently with the nature and circumstances of the case, to assist the parties in arriving at a settlement in respect of the subject-matter of the suit.

(2) If, in any such suit or proceeding, at any stage, it appears to the Court that there is a reasonable possibility of a settlement between the parties, the Court may adjourn the proceeding for such period as it thinks fit, to enable attempts to be made to effect such a settlement.

(3) The power conferred under sub-rule (2) is in addition to any other power of the Court to adjourn proceedings.]
Attendance of person able to answer questions relating to suit against Government

The Court may also in any case in which the Government pleader is not accompanied by any person on the part of the Government who may be able to answer any material questions relating to the suit, direct the attendance of such a person.
Extension of time to enable public officer to make reference to Government

(1) Where the defendant is a public officer and, on receiving the summons, considers it proper to make a reference to the Government before answering the plaint, he may apply to the Court to grant such extension of the time fixed in the summons as may necessary to enable him to make such reference and to receive orders thereon through the proper channel.

(2) Upon such application the Court shall extend the time for so long as appears to it to be necessary.
Procedure in suits against public officer

(1) Where the Government undertakes the defence of a suit against a public officer, the Government pleader, upon being furnished with authority to appear and answer the plaint, shall apply to the Court, and upon such application the Court shall cause a note of his authority to be entered in the register of civil suits.

(2) Where no application under sub-rule (1) is made by the Government pleader on or before the day fixed in the notice for the defendant to appear and answer, the case shall proceed as in a suit between private parties:

Provided that the defendant shall not be liable to arrest, nor his property to attachment, otherwise than in execution of a decree.
No security to be required from Government or a public officer in certain cases

No such security as is mentioned in rules 5 and 6 of Order XLI shall be required from the Government or, where the Government has undertaken the defence of the suit, from any public officer sued in respect of an act alleged to be done by him in his official capacity.

HIGH COURT AMENDMENTS

Andhra Pradesh.-Same as in Madras.

Madras.-In Order XXVII, re-number rule 8A as rule 9.
Definitions of "Government" and "Government pleader"

In this Order unless otherwise expressly, provided "Government" and "Government pleader" mean respectively-

(a) in relation to any suit by or against the Central Government, or against a public officer in the service of that Government, the Central Government and such pleader as that Government may appoint whether generally or specially for the purposes of this Order;

*[* * *]

(c) in relation to any suit by or against a State Government or against a public officer in the service of a State, the State Government and the Government pleader as defined in clause (7) of section 2, or such other pleader as the State Government may appoint, whether generally or specially, for the purposes of this Order.

*Clause (b) omitted by the A.O. 1948.

STATE AMENDMENT

Uttar Pradesh.-In Order XXVII, after rule 9, insert the following rule, namely:-

"10- Suits by or-against statutory authority.-(1) Any authority or corporation, consituted by or under any law, may, from time to time, appoint a Standing Counsel, to be called Corporation pleader of that authority in any district and give information of such appointment to the District Judge *[and to Registrar of the High Court at Allahabad or a Lucknow Bench, as the case may be].

(2) The Corporation pleader so appointed shall be the agent in that district of the appointing authority or Corporation for purposes of receiving processes against it, but shall not act or plead without filing a vakalatnama or memorandum of appearance."

[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 57 of 1976, sec. 11 (w.e.f. 1-1-2024) and * Notification dated 10th February, 1981 (w.e.f. 3-10-2023).]

HIGH COURT AMENDMENTS

Allahabad.-In Order XXVII, after rule 8B, insert the following rule, namely:-

"9. In every case in which the District Government Counsel appears for the Government as a party on its own account, or for the Government as undertaking under the provisions of rule 8(1), the defence of a suit against an officer of the Government, he shall, in lieu of a vakalatnama, file a memorandum on unstamped paper signed by him and stating on whose behalf he appears. Such memorandum shall be, as nearly as may be, in the terms of the following form:-

TITLE OF THE SUIT, ETC.

1. AB. District Government Counsel appears on behalf of the Government of India (or the Government of Uttar Pradesh, or as the case may be) respondent (or etc.). in the suit:-

or, on behalf of the Government [which under order 27, rule 8(1) of Act No. V of 1908, has undertaken the defence of the suit], respondent (or, etc.), in the suit."
{Vide Notification No. 1953/35 (a), dated 22nd May, 1915.]

Andhra Pradesh.-Same as in Madras.

Madras.-In Order XXVII, renumber rules 8A and 8B as rules 9 and 10 respectively, (w.e.f. 2-3-2024)

Orissa.-In Order XXVI, insert the following rule, namely:-

"9. In every case in which the Government pleader appears for the Government as a party on it own accounts or for the Government as undertaking under the provision of rule 8(1), the defence of a suit against an officer of a Government, he shall in lieu of a vakalatnama, file a memorandum of unstamped paper signed by him and stating on whose behalf he appears." (w.e.f. 14-10-2023)
     
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