Updated: August 2026
An application for impleadment asks the Supreme Court to add a person or entity as a party where that person has a direct, substantial or legally protectable interest in the pending matter and effective adjudication may require that person's presence.
Current procedural note: Supreme Court filing practice classifies interlocutory applications for Addition / Deletion / Modification Parties and for Intervention/Impleadment. The Supreme Court Rules, 2013, as amended from time to time, govern practice and procedure before the Court. Order I Rule 10 CPC remains an important source of the familiar
"necessary or proper party" principle in civil procedure, but a Supreme Court filing should be prepared in conformity with the Supreme Court Rules, applicable practice directions and Registry requirements.
Legal basis and current Supreme Court practice
The Supreme Court of India publishes the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 together with subsequent amendments. Before filing, the latest version of the Rules, amendments, filing requirements and Registry practice should be checked on the official Supreme Court website.
For civil procedure generally, Order I Rule 10(2) of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 embodies the principle that a court may add a person whose presence is necessary to enable the court to effectually and completely adjudicate upon and settle the questions involved. The precise basis and relief in a Supreme Court IA should, however, be tailored to the nature of the pending proceeding.
What an impleadment application should explain
A properly drafted application should identify the pending case and the applicant, explain the applicant's direct and subsisting interest, show how the outcome may affect the applicant, state why the applicant's presence will assist complete and effective adjudication, and explain why addition of the applicant will not unfairly prejudice the existing parties. The supporting facts should be concise, case-specific and backed by relevant annexures where necessary.
Drafting caution: Do not copy factual paragraphs from a sample that do not apply to your case. Replace all blanks, verify the cause title and party description from the Supreme Court record, use the correct IA nomenclature, and comply with the current filing, affidavit, vakalatnama/AOR, service and e-filing requirements.
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
I.A. NO. _____ OF 20__
IN
SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (C) NO. _____ OF 20__
IN THE MATTER OF:
____________________________ & ORS.....PETITIONER(S)
VERSUS
____________________________ & ORS.....RESPONDENT(S)
AND IN THE MATTER OF:
____________________________
Address: ____________________....APPLICANT
APPLICATION FOR IMPLEADMENT / ADDITION AS PARTY
TO,
THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA AND HIS COMPANION JUSTICES OF THE HON'BLE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
The humble application of the Applicant above named
MOST RESPECTFULLY SHOWETH:
- That the above-mentioned Special Leave Petition is pending before this Hon'ble Court and concerns ________________________________________________.
- That the Applicant is ________________________________________________ and has a direct and subsisting interest in the subject matter of the present proceedings.
- That the Applicant was not arrayed as a party in the proceedings below / has become materially affected by subsequent events, namely ________________________________________________.
- That the rights and interests of the Applicant are likely to be directly affected by the adjudication of the present matter because ________________________________________________.
- That the presence of the Applicant is necessary and/or proper for effectual and complete adjudication of the questions arising in the present proceedings. In the absence of the Applicant, ________________________________________________.
- That the Applicant seeks to place before this Hon'ble Court the following material facts/documents relevant to the controversy: ________________________________________________. Copies of the relevant documents, wherever required, are annexed with this application.
- That impleadment of the Applicant will not alter the essential nature of the pending proceedings and no irreparable prejudice will be caused to the existing parties. On the contrary, non-impleadment may seriously prejudice the Applicant's legally protectable interests.
- That the present application is bona fide, is made in the interest of justice and is necessary for complete adjudication of the matter.
PRAYER
In the above facts and circumstances, it is most respectfully prayed that this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to:
(a) allow the present application and implead/add the Applicant as ____________________ in Special Leave Petition (C) No. _____ of 20__;
(b) permit consequential amendment of the cause title and record, if required;
(c) pass such other or further order(s) as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the interests of justice.
AND FOR THIS ACT OF KINDNESS THE APPLICANT AS IN DUTY BOUND SHALL EVER PRAY.
Place: New Delhi
Date: __.__.20__
FILED BY
____________________________
ADVOCATE-ON-RECORD FOR THE APPLICANT
Supporting affidavit and filing requirements
The application will ordinarily need to be supported and filed in the manner required by the Supreme Court Rules and current Registry practice. Depending on the case and filing route, requirements may include an affidavit, vakalatnama/appearance through an Advocate-on-Record, proof of service, properly indexed annexures, prescribed formatting and e-filing particulars. Always verify the current requirements before lodging the IA.
Official references
For the latest position, consult the Supreme Court's official Rules page and interlocutory-application nomenclature, and use India Code for the text of the Code of Civil Procedure. The Supreme Court Rules page includes subsequent amendment notifications, so it is preferable to relying on an old standalone copy.
Disclaimer: This sample is for general legal drafting information. Court filings must be adapted to the facts, case category, current Supreme Court Rules, Registry requirements and orders in the pending matter. It is not a substitute for professional legal advice.
