Rule 1 Order XXXVII of Code of Civil Procedure 1908 "Court and classes of suits to which the Order is to apply"
(1) This Order shall apply to the following Courts,
namely :-
(a) High Courts, City Civil Courts and Courts of Small
Causes: and
(b) other Courts:
Provided that in respect of the Courts referred to in clause
(b), the High Court may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, restrict the operation of this Order only to such
categories of suits as it deems proper, and may also, from
time to time, as the circumstances of the case may require,
by subsequent notification in the official Gazette, further
restrict, enlarge 6r vary, the categories of suits to be
brought under the operation of this Order as it deems
proper.
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-rule (1), the Order
applies to the following classes of suits, namely:-
(a) suits upon bills of exchange, hundies and Promissory
notes:
(b) suits in which the plaintiff seeks only to recover a
debt or liquidated demand in money payable by the defendant,
with or without interest, arising,-
(i) on a written contract, or
(ii) on an enactment, where the sum sought to be recovered
is a fixed sum of money or in the nature of a debt other
than a penalty; or
(iii) on a guarantee, Where the claim against the principal
is in respect of a debt or liquidated demand only.
Rule 2 Order XXXVII of Code of Civil Procedure 1908 "Institution of summary suits"
(1) A suit, to which this Order applies, may if the
plaintiff proceed desires to desires hereunder, be
instituted by presenting a plaint which shall contain,-
(a) a specific averment to the effect that the suit is filed
under this Order;
(b) that no relief, which does not fall within the ambit of
this rule; has been claimed in the plaint; and
(c) the following inscription, immediately below the number
of the suit in the title of the suit, namely :-
"(Under Order XXXVII of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908)."
(2) The summons of the suit shall be in Form No. 4 in
Appendix B or in such other Form as may, from time to time,
be prescribed.
(3) The defendant shall not defend the suit referred to in
sub-rule (1) unless he enters an appearance and in default
of his entering an appearance the allegations in the plaint
shall be deemed to be admitted and the plaintiff shall be
entitled to a decree for any sum, not exceeding the sum
mentioned in the summons, together with interest at the rate
specified, if any, up to the date of the decree and such sum
for costs as may be determined by the High Court from time
to time by rules made in that behalf and such decree may be
executed forthwith.
Rule 3 Order XXXVII of Code of Civil Procedure 1908 "Procedure for the appearance of defendant"
(1) In a suit to which this Order applies, the plaintiff
shall, together with the summons under rule 2, serve on the
defendant a copy of the plaint and annexures thereto and the
defendant may, at any time within ten days of such service,
enter an appearance either in person or by pleader and, in
either case, he shall file in Court an a address for service
of notices on him.
(2) Unless otherwise ordered, all summonses, notices and
other judicial processes, required to be served on the
defendant, shall be deemed to have been duly served on him
if they are left at the address given by him for such
service.
(3) On the day of entering the appearance, notice of such
appearance shall be given by the defendant to the
plaintiff's pleader, or, if tile plaintiff sues in person,
to the plaintiff himself, either by. notice delivered at or
sent by a pre-paid letter directed to the address of the
plaintiff's pleader or of the plaintiff, as the case may be.
(4) if the defendant enters an appearance, the plaintiff
shall thereafter serve on the defendant a summons for
judgment in Form No. 4A in Appendix B or such other Form as
may be prescribed from time to time, returnable not less
than ten days from the date of service supported by an
affidavit verifying the cause of action and the amount
claimed and stating that in his belief there is no defence
to the suit.
(5) The defendant may, at any time within ten days from the
service of such summons for judgment, by affidavit or
otherwise disclosing such facts as may be deemed sufficient
to entitle him to defend, apply on such summons for leave to
defend such suit, and leave to defend may be granted to him
unconditionally or upon such terms as may appear to the
Court or Judge to be just:
Provided that leave to defend shall not be refused unless
the Court is satisfied that the facts disclosed by the
defendant do not indicate that he has a substantial defence
to raise or that the defence intended to be put up by the
defendant is frivolous vexatious:
Provided further that, where a part of the amount claimed by
the plaintiff is admitted by the defendant to be due from
him, leave to defend the suit shall not be granted unless
the amount so admitted to be due is deposited by the
defendant in Court.
(6) At the hearing of such summons for judgment,-
(a) if the defendant has not applied for leave to defend, or
if such application has been made and is refused, the
plaintiff shall be entitled to judgment forthwith; or
(b) if the defendant is permitted to defend as to the whole
or any part of the claim, the Court or Judge may direct him
to give such security and within such time as may be fixed
by the Court or Judge and that, on failure to give such
security within the time specified by the Court or Judge or
to carry out such other directions as may have been given by
the Court or Judge, the plaintiff shall be entitled to
judgment forthwith.
(7) The Court or Judge may, for sufficient cause shown by
the defendant, excuse the delay of the defendant in entering
an appearance or in applying for leave to defend the suit.
Rule 4 Order XXXVII of Code of Civil Procedure 1908 "Power to set aside decree"
After decree the Court may, under special circumstances set aside the decree, and if necessary stay or set aside execution, and may give leave to the defendant to appear to the summons and to defend the suit, if it seems reasonable to the Court so to de, and on such terms as the Court thinks fit.
Rule 5 Order XXXVII of Code of Civil Procedure 1908 "Power to order bill, etc., to be deposited with officer of Court"
In any proceeding under this Order the Court may order the bill, hundi or note on which the suit is founded to be forthwith deposited with an officer of the Court, and may further order that all proceedings shall be stayed until the plaintiff gives security for the costs thereof.
Rule 6 Order XXXVII of Code of Civil Procedure 1908 "Recovery of cost of noting non-acceptance of dishonoured bill or note"
The holder of every dishonoured bill of exchange or promissory note shall have the same remedies for the recovery of the expenses incurred in noting the same for non-acceptance or non-payment, or otherwise, by reason of such dishonour, as he has under this Order for the recovery of the amount of such bill or note.
Rule 7 Order XXXVII of Code of Civil Procedure 1908 "Procedure in suits"
Save as provided by this Order, the procedure in suits hereunder shall be the same as the procedure in suits instituted in the ordinary manner.