JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA

FACULTY OF LAW

ASSIGNMENT FOR CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDUR- II

TOPIC: SUITS BY INDIGENT PERSON

PRESENTED BY:

NAME: NIDHI RANA

SEMESTER: VIII Semester

COURSE: B.A.LLB (Hons.)

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The success and final outcome of this project required a lot of guidance and assistance from
many people and I am extremely privileged to have got this all along the completion of my
project. All that I have done is only due to such supervision and assistance and I would not forget
to thank them.

I respect and thank Mr.Ekramuddin Malik Sir , for providing me an opportunity to do the project
and giving me all support and guidance which made me complete the project duly. I am
extremely thankful to him for providing such a nice topic “Suits by Indigent Person” on which I
could do a profound research and learnt a lot from it. I owe my deep gratitude to him as he took
keen interest in this project work and guided me all along.

I would not forget to remember my fellowmates for their encouragement and more over for their
timely support and guidance till the completion of my project work.

I am thankful to and fortunate enough to get constant encouragement, support and guidance from
all which helped me in successfully completing this project work.

Nidhi Rana

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INTRODUCTION

Order XXXIII of CPC deals with the suits by indigent person. An indigent person is one who
does not possess sufficient means to pay court fees and unable to proceed with any suit. Every
application for permission to sue as indigent person must contain the report of his moveable and
immoveable property, with the estimated value annexed with the application. When the
application is in proper form and duly presented, the court, may think fit, examine the applicants
or his agents and the application must be duly verified and signed by the applicants. The court
has the power to reject or withdraw the application under order 33 even in the middle of the
proceedings, if the court finds suitable grounds under Rule 5 & 9. If the application is duly
admitted and accepted by the court the suit will be treated as any other normal suit and court may
also provide the applicant a lawyer to represent him. If the applicant wins the suit the court will
then decide who has to pay the court fees but if the respondent wins the case the court fees is
payable by the applicants. If the application under Order XXXIII is rejected by any subordinate
court the, the same is appealable.

In landmark judgement by Supreme Court in 2011 'Union Bank of India vrs. Khader
International Construction and Ors , it was stated the Order XXXIII may also include any juristic
person i.e. any corporate firm etc.

OBJECTIVES

1.To learn about the status of Indigent person.

2. To learn about the procedure to be followed by an Indigent person in filing an application.

3. To analyse the diffrence between Suits by plaintiff and suits by indigent person.

WHO CAN FILE AN APPLICATION UNDER THIS PROVISION?

Any application may be filed by natural person or any judicial person who all fill within the
ambit and are not barred by law in any manner. In landmark judgement held by Supreme Court

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2011 'Union Bank of India vrs. Khader International Construction and Ors' 1, juristic person
can also avail the application under Order 33 of Civil Procedure Code 2 . Order 33 enacts to help
the proper people who do not possess sufficient means (other than the property exempted in
Section 60) to pay the prescribed court fees by law in the suit filed by him. It cannot be the
purpose of this legislation that the indigent person should first deprive himself of the sole means
of livelihood or alienate all his assets and seek justice in penury. If the particular suit is pending
and the applicant dies in between the same benefit won't be granted to the legal heirs.

1
(2001) 5 SCC 22.
2
M/s. Mamata Papers Pvt. Ltd. v State of Orissa and others, 2000 99

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MEANING: INDIGENT PERSON

A person is an indigent person if he is not possessed of sufficient means (other than the property
exempt from attachment in execution of a decree and the subject matter of the suit) to enable to
pay the fee prescribed by law for the plaint in such suit. The concept is well explained in the case
of Rabinder Singh VS. Maheshwar Rao3, by Patna High Court that the person having sufficient
means cannot be allowed to sue as an indigent person. It was further more clarity was brought by
Orissa High Court in the Manglu Chattar vs. Maheswar Bhoi in which it was stated that, the
tools of artisans are exempted from attachment.4

Where no such fees is prescribed, if he is not entitled to property worth one thousand rupees
other than the property exempted from attachment in execution of a decree and the subject matter
of the suit. In A.A. HajaMuniuddin v. Indian Railways 5, this Court has observed: Access to
justice cannot be denied to an individual merely because he does not have the means to pay the
prescribed fee.6

INQUIRY INTO THE MEANS OF AN INDIGENT PERSON

Every Inquiry into the question whether or not a person is an indignet person shall be made, in
the first instance, by the chief ministerial officer of the court, unless the court otherwise directs
and the court may adopt the report of such officer as it own finding or may itself make an inquiry
in to the question. Content Of Application EveyApplication for permission to sue as an indigent
person shall contain the particulatrs required in regarding to plaints in suits; a schedule of any
movable or immvoable Property belonging to the applicant with the estimated value thereof shall
be annexed and shall be signed and verifued in the manner prescribed for the signing and
verification of pleadings.

3
1997 BLJR 1568
4
Mathai M. Paikeday v C.K. Anthony, CIVIL APPEAL NO. 5493 OF 2011
5
(1992) 4 SCC 736
6
A. A. HajaMuniuddin v. Indian Railways, (1992) 4 SCC 736

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Procedures

Rule 2 to 8 prescribes the procedure to be followed when the suit is proposed to be instituted as a
indigent person. Rule 2 provides for signing and verfication of the plaint. This rule is sufficiently
complained with the application for permission is accompanied by a seperate plaint where the
plaint contains all the necessary particulars and as been properly verified. The non verification of
the schedule of properties does not entile a rejection of the application where the contents of the
petition have not been verified but a seperate affidavit in which the statements contained in the
application are stated to be true, has been filed, the same can be treated as part of the application.

Examination

The rule contemplates examination of two kinds namely :

1. The examination of the applicant which may, as indicated in the rule be regarding

a. The merits of the claim

b. Pauperism,

2. The examination of the persons other than the applicant which should be confined to
pauperism only as indicated by tge provisions by rules 6 and 7. Persons other than applicant
cannot be examined on the merits of the applicants claim. When an applicant is a minor it is
sufficient to examined the next friend.

Stages Of Inquiry

On application for a permission to file a suit as an indigent person, the first stage examination of
the petition under order33 rule 4 at which stage the court can suo motu can reject the petition on
any ground specified in order 33 rule 5. If the petition Is not so rejected the second stage is
noticed to the opposite party and a fixation of the date under order33 rule 7 for evidence
regarding the application. At this second stage the applicant can let him evidence that tha petition
is not subjected to any of the prohibitions mentioned in order33 rule5 and it is equally opened to
show that the petition is so object. In deciding the questions Of grant of leave to sue as an

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individual person the question whether the suit as framed is maintainable and competent must be
decided first it cannot be left for consideration during trail. It goes to very root of the matter.

Rejection Of The Application

The court shall reject an application for permission to sue as an individual person

a. Where ot is not framed and presented the manner prescribed by rule 2 and 3.

b. Where the applicant is not an indigent person.

c. Where he has, within two months next before the presentation of application, disposed of any
property fradulently or in order to be able to apply for permission to sue as an indigent person;
Provided That no application shall be rejected if, even after the value of property disposed of by
the applicant is taken into account.

d. Where his allegations do not show a cause of action.

e. Where he has entered into any agreement with reference to the subject of the proposed suut
under which any person as obtained an interest in such subject matter.

f. Where the allegation made by the applicant in the application shows that the suit wuold be
bought by any law for the time being in force.

g. Where anyother person as enter into an agreement with him to finance the litigation.

Difference Between Suit By Plaintiff And A Suit By An Indigent Person:

A plaintiff who files the suit by presentation of plaint pays the required Court fee along with
plaint. Whereas, the person filing a suit as indigent person as to obtain the permission of the
competent Court to file a suit as forma pauperis (indigent person). If the indigent person
succeeds the Court. Government shall have the first charge over the fruits of the suit to recover
Court fee from the indigent person.

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ADMISSION OF EVIDENCE AND PROCEDURE OF HEARING: -

When the court is satisfied with the application and sees no reasons to reject it on any of the
grounds, a notice shall be given to the opposite party and government pleader atleast 10 days
prior and a date shall be fixed for receiving such evidences as the application may adduce in
proof of his indigency and for hearing any evidence which may be adduced in disproof thereof.

After the admission of the required documents and evidence the court shall examine the witness
produced by either party. After hearing all arguments and questions on the application and
evidences. The court shall then either allow or refuse to allow the application to sue as indigent
person. When the application is granted, it shall be numbered and registered and shall be deemed
the plaint in the suit, the suit shall proceed in any the ordinary manner just like other normal
suit7. MathalBrijitha v. Thenkappan Nair8, in a proceeding connected with the suit or appeal
indigent plaintiff or appealing filing review petition need not to pay Court-fee.

The court on the application of the defendant or the government pleader shall withdraw the
permission granted to the plaintiff the sue as an indigent person on grounds of vexatious or
improper conduct in the course of the suit else if the applicant got into an agreement with
reference to the subject matter of the suit under which any third party has obtained interest.

Rule 9 provides for contingency where the plaintiff though originally permitted to sue as an
indigent person ceases to be an indigent person subsequent to the institution of the suit. If the
plaintiff ceases to be an indigent person, then he shall be ordered to pay the court fee which he
would have done if he would have had to if a non-indigent person. It is a matter of discretion by
the court if they would like to dispauper the plaintiff. Application under this rule should be
disposed of before the suit is decided. It is not sound practise to dispauper the plaintiff while the
suit is going on. Where leave to sue was given after notice to the defendant, who did not appear,
an application by him under this rule to dispauper the plaintiff on the ground that he was
possessed of sufficient means on the date of application is not maintainable. The matter of
7
B.Manikyam v B Ramamurthy AIR 1975
8
AIR 1993
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pauperism is co-related with payment of court fees. The state government is principally
concerned with the payment of court fees.

WITHDRAWAL OF PERMISSION TO SUE AS AN INDIGENT PERSON

The court may on the applicantion of the defendant or of the government pleader of which seven
days prior notice in return as been given to the plaintiff, order that the permission granted to the
plaintiff to sue as an indigent person be withdrawn

a. If he is guilty vexatious or improper conduct in the course of the suit

b. If it appears that it his means or such that he ought not to continue to sue as an indigent person
c. If he has entered into any agreement with reference to the subject matter of the suit under
which any other person as obtain an interest in subject matter.

The object is to re-open the matter of pauperism. This rule provides for a contingency where the
plaintiff the originally permitted to sue as an indigent person ceases to be a indigent subsewuent
to the institution of the suit. It as clearly provided that on the plaintiff ceasing to be indigent
person the court shall order him to pay the court fee which would have been pay by him if he had
not been permitted to sue as an indigent person. Once such an oder is made the court cannot
proceed with the suit unless the court fee payable on the plaint is paid by the plaintiff. The
principle of res judicata is not applicable to proceedings under this rule however it does not
authorise revocation of the passed order on the ground that even at that time tha plaintiff had
sufficient means the court has no proper suo motu to dispauper the plaintiff. That can be done
only on the application of the defendant or the government pleader. It is matter of discretion with
the court whether it would dispauper the plaintiff. Where leave to sue was given after notice to
the defendant who did not appear on application by him, under this rule, dispauper the plaintiff in
the ground that he was possessed of sufficient means on the date of the application is not
maintainable.

CLAUSE(a) The disclosure by the plaintiff of life policy worth Rs.225 in a suit where the court
fees were over Rs 500 was held not to justify his being dispauper

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CLAUSE(b) Reciept of interim maintenance during the suit is not a ground for dispaupering the
plaintiff if it is not enough to enable her to save the amount required court fees nor can she be
dispaupered because she is living with the rich relative and appearing through eminent council.

CLAUSE(c) If the plaintiff executes a mortage of the property in suit after he has been given
leave to sue a pauper, he is laible to the dispaupered. It is bit necessary that the agreement should
be champetours.

Court To Assign a Pleader To An Unrepresented Indigent Person

1. Where the person who is permitted to sue as an indigent person is not represented by a pleader
the court may, if the circumstance of the case so required, assign a pleader to him.

2. The High court may, with the previous approval of the state government make rule providing
for

a. The mode of selecting pleaders to be assigned underthe sub rule 1

b. The facilities to be provided to search pleaders by the court

c. Any other matter which is required to be or may be provided by the rule for giving effect to
the provisions of sub rule 1.

Costs where Indigent Person Succeeds Where the plaintiff succeeds in the suit, the court shall
calculate the amount of court fees which would have been paid bybthe plaintiff if he had not
been permitted to sue as an indigent person, such amount shall be recoverable by the state
government from any party ordered by the decree to pay the same, and shall be a first charge on
the subject charge on the subject matter of the suit. This rule applies only when the suit has been
permitted to be instituted in forma pauperis. Futher the court as to order the payment of court fee
on the amoubt claimed and not on the amount decreed being the court fee payable on the plaint
had the plaintiff not been permitted to sue as pauper.

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PROCEDURE WHERE INDIGENT PERSON FAILS IN THE SUIT

Where the plaintiff fails in the suit or a permission granted to him to sue as an indigent person as
been withdrawn or where the suit is withdrawn or dismissed

a. Because the summon for the defendant to appear and answer as not been served upon him in
consequence of the failure ofnthe plaintiff to pay the court fee or if any chargable for such
service or to present copies of the plaint or concise statement.

b. Because the plaintiff doesnot appear when the suit is called on for the hearing The court shall
order the plaintiff to pay the court fees which would have been paid by the plaintiff if he had not
been permitted to sue as an indigent person.

An order under this rule directing the pauper plaintuff to pay the court fees can be made only in
the following four cases:

1. Where the plaintiff fails in the suits;

2. Where the plaintiff is dispaupered under rule 9; i.e. his indigent status is cancelled;

3. Where the suit is withdrawn; or

4. Where the suit is dismissed under the circumstances specified in clause (a) or clause (b).

Cost

This rule does not preclude the court from awarding a successful defendant is caused in a pauper
suit. The court has full power under section 35 to give and apportion cost in any matter it thinks
fit. Nothing in this rule limits or otherwise affect the power conferred upon the section 35 to give
and apportion cost. It has been held that the description of the court under section 35 empowers
the court to order that the court fees which would have to be paid by a minor plaintiff suing as an
indigent person should be paid by his next friend.

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Death Of Plaintiff

In Muthukumaran vs State of Tamil nadu, The plaintiff suing as an indigent person died and his
legal representative where substituted. The suit was dismissed and the court pass an order to
recover the court fees from the legal representative to held that the order need not the conferred
to assests inherited by the deceased.

Procedure Where Indigent Person Suit Abates

Where the suit abate by the reason of the death of the plaintiff or co-plaintiff, the court shall
order the amount of court fees which should have been paid by the plaintiff if he had not been
permitted to sue as an individual person shall be recovered by the state government from the
estate of the deceased plaintiff.

State Government May Apply For The Payment Of Court Fees

The state government shall have the right at any time to apply to the court to make an order for
payment of the court fees under rule 10, 11 or rule 11A. State Government To Be Deemed A
Party All matters arising between the state government and any party to the suit Under rule
10,11,11A or 12 shall be deemed to be questions arising between the parties to the suit within the
meaning of section 47.

Recovery Of Amount Of Court Fees

Where an order is made under rule 10,11 or 11A the court shall forthwith cause a copy of the
decree or order to be forwarded to the collector, who may, without prejudice to any other mode
of recovery, specified therein from the person or property liable for payment as if it were arrear
of land revenue.

Refusal To Allow Applicant To Sue As Indigent Person To Bar Subsequent

An Order refusing to allow the applicant to sue as an indigent person shall the a bar to any
subsequent application of the like nature by him in respect of same right to sue but the applicant
shall be at liberty to instutute a suit in ordinary manner in respect of such right provided that tge

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plaint shall be rejected if he does not pay, either at the time of the institution of the suit or within
such time thereafter as the court may allow, the cost incurred by state government and by the
opposite party in opposing his application for leave to sue as a indigent person.

Grant Of Time For Payment Of Court Fee

Nothing contain in rule 5,7 or 15 shall prevent the court while rejecting the application under
rule 5 or refusing an application under rule 7 from granting time to the applicant to pay the
requisite court fee within such time as may be fix by the court. The cost of the application for
permission to sue as an indigent person and inquiry into indegency shall be deemed to be cost in
the suit.

Defendant as an Indigent person

Any defendant who desires to plead as setoff or counter claim may be allowed to set up such
claim as an indigent person, and the rules contained in this order shall so far as may be, apply to
him as if he were a plaintiff and his written statement were a plaint.

Power Of Government To Provide For Free Legal Services To Indigent

Subject to the provisions of thisorder, the central or state government may make such
supplementary provisions as it thinks it fits for providing free legal services to those who have
been permitted to sue as indigent persons. The High court may, with the previous approval of the
state government makes rules for carrying out the supplementary provisions made by the cebtral
or state government for providing free legal services to indigent persons referred to in sub
rule(1), and such rules may include the nature and extent of such legal services, the conditions
under which they may be made available, the matters in respect of which, and the agencies
through which such services may rendered.

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CONCLUSION

Summarizing up the indigent person under Order 33 is one who is either not possessed of
sufficient means to pay court fee when such fee is prescribed by law or is not entitled to property
worth one thousand rupees when such court fee is not prescribed. In both the cases, the property
exempted from the attachment in execution of a decree and the subject-matter of the suit shall
not be taken into account to calculate financial worth or ability of such indigent person. If a
person fails in his action as an indigent person then he is bound to pay the court fee of the
respective court, and the remaining damages have to be borne by the State Government as if they
had committed the wrong. Whereas if indigent person won the case then he cannot be held liable
to any kind of expenses, fee or damages.

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