Civil suits

Plaint format under Order VII of the CPC

The particulars a plaint must contain under Order VII CPC, cause of action and limitation pleading, valuation and court fee, verification, and the grounds on which a plaint is rejected.

A plaint is the pleading that institutes a civil suit. Order VII Rule 1 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 requires it to state the name of the court, the parties with descriptions and addresses, the facts constituting the cause of action and when it arose, the facts showing jurisdiction, the relief claimed, and the value of the subject matter for jurisdiction and court fee. It must be verified as required by Order VI Rule 15 and, where the suit is time sensitive, must plead the facts that bring it within limitation.

Governed by
  • Order VII, Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
  • Order VI Rule 15, Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (verification)
  • Section 26 and Order IV, Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (institution of suits)
  • State court fees legislation, such as the Tamil Nadu Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1955 and the Kerala Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1959
  • Limitation Act, 1963
Where it is filed
The civil court of the lowest grade competent to try the suit, within whose territorial jurisdiction the cause of action arose or the defendant resides or the property is situated.
Who files it
The plaintiff, through an advocate holding a vakalatnama.
Time limit
Governed by the Limitation Act, 1963 according to the nature of the claim: commonly three years for money claims on contract and twelve years for recovery of possession of immovable property. The plaint should plead the date the cause of action arose.
Court fee and stamp
Ad valorem or fixed court fee on the value of the relief, computed under the State's court fees and suits valuation legislation. Under-valuation is a standard ground of objection.
Languages PleadEasy drafts this in
English, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam

What a plaint must contain

The parts below are the structure of the document in filing order. The operative wording is a matter for the drafting advocate and for the practice of the court concerned.

  1. 1.Cause title

    The exact name of the court, the suit number left blank for the registry, and the parties with age, father's or husband's name, occupation and full address.

  2. 2.Description of parties

    The capacity in which each party sues or is sued: in person, as guardian, as karta, as partner, or through an authorised signatory.

  3. 3.Facts

    A numbered, chronological narration of the transaction, confined to material facts and not evidence, as required by Order VI Rule 2.

  4. 4.Cause of action

    An express paragraph stating the bundle of facts constituting the cause of action and the date on which it arose.

  5. 5.Jurisdiction

    The facts showing that the court has territorial and pecuniary jurisdiction.

  6. 6.Limitation

    A paragraph stating that the suit is within limitation, and pleading any acknowledgement, part payment or exclusion relied on.

  7. 7.Valuation and court fee

    The value of the suit for jurisdiction and for court fee, with the provision under which it is computed and the fee paid.

  8. 8.Relief

    Each relief claimed, stated separately and precisely, including any alternative relief and costs.

  9. 9.Verification and affidavit

    Verification under Order VI Rule 15 identifying paragraphs true to knowledge and to information, with the supporting affidavit and the list of documents under Order VII Rule 14.

Mistakes that get this document returned

  • Pleading evidence and argument instead of material facts, contrary to Order VI Rule 2.
  • No express cause of action paragraph, exposing the plaint to rejection under Order VII Rule 11(a).
  • Under-valuing the suit to save court fee, leading to a return or an order to make good the deficit.
  • Vague relief such as 'any other relief' without a specific principal relief.
  • Not filing the documents relied on with the plaint, restricting their later production under Order VII Rule 14(3).

Frequently asked questions

What are the essential contents of a plaint under Order VII Rule 1 CPC?

The name of the court, the names, descriptions and residences of the plaintiff and defendant, a statement of the plaintiff's disability if any, the facts constituting the cause of action and when it arose, the facts showing jurisdiction, the relief claimed, any set-off or relinquishment, and the value of the subject matter for jurisdiction and court fee.

When can a plaint be rejected?

Under Order VII Rule 11 CPC, where it discloses no cause of action, the relief is undervalued and not corrected, it is insufficiently stamped and the deficit is not made good, the suit appears from the statement in the plaint to be barred by law, it is not filed in duplicate, or Rule 9 is not complied with.

Is limitation to be pleaded in the plaint?

Yes. Under Section 3 of the Limitation Act, 1963 the court must dismiss a time-barred suit even if limitation is not set up as a defence, so the plaint should plead the date of the cause of action and any ground for exclusion or extension.

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Last reviewed 30 August 2026. This guide is general information about court procedure for advocates. It is not legal advice and does not replace the rules of practice of the court you are filing in.