Court Petition, Suit & Complaint Formats in India

Civil Suits & Applications under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

• Suit for specific performance with alternative prayer for refund/recovery of money
• Summary suit under Order XXXVII CPC for recovery based on qualifying written instruments or debt
• Suit for compensation arising from negligence, death or physical injury
• Suit seeking injunction against illegal construction or public nuisance
• Interim injunction application in a pending civil suit
• Suit for possession after termination of licence
• Suit for possession against trespass/unauthorised occupation
• Probate petition under section 276 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925

Cheque Bounce: Section 138 Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881

Section 138 proceedings continue to be governed by the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. Limitation, statutory notice requirements, territorial jurisdiction and current judicial directions should be checked before filing.

• Legal notice under section 138 NI Act after dishonour of cheque
• Complaint under section 138 NI Act
• Documents to annex with a section 138 complaint
• Complainant's affidavit/evidence format for section 138 proceedings

Criminal Complaints & Police-Related Applications

For new proceedings governed by BNSS, information relating to cognizable offences is dealt with in section 173; a Magistrate's power to order investigation is in section 175(3); cognizance by Magistrates is in section 210; and complaints to Magistrates are dealt with in sections 223 to 227. Older CrPC specimens may require substantial statutory and drafting changes.

• Legacy criminal complaint specimen under sections 200/156(3) CrPC update to BNSS where applicable
• Legacy police complaint/FIR specimen under section 154 CrPC update to BNSS s.173
• Application for release of stolen vehicle from police/court custody
• Application for release of vehicle seized after an accident

Consumer Complaint Formats - Consumer Protection Act, 2019

The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 has been repealed. Current complaints are governed by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and applicable rules/regulations. Under the Consumer Protection (Jurisdiction of the District Commission, the State Commission and the National Commission) Rules, 2021, pecuniary jurisdiction is based on the value of goods or services paid as consideration.

• Consumer complaint against builder seeking refund, compensation and costs adapt to 2019 Act
• Guide to lodging a consumer grievance online
• Legacy bank/credit-card consumer complaint specimen 1986 Act reference outdated

Motor Accident Claim & Vehicle Applications

• Motor accident compensation claim petition - verify current Motor Vehicles Act provisions before use
• Application for release of vehicle from custody
• Application for release of accident vehicle

High Court Writ Petition Formats

High Court writ jurisdiction principally arises under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution. Filing requirements, pagination, affidavits, annexures, court fees and e-filing rules vary by High Court.

• Writ petition under Articles 226/227 challenging a CAT order
• General writ petition under Article 226
• Habeas corpus petition
• Writ of mandamus - employment/termination specimen
• Writ of prohibition
• Writ of certiorari
• Writ of quo warranto

Supreme Court of India Petition & Application Formats

Supreme Court filings must comply with the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 as amended, applicable practice directions, Registry requirements and current e-filing instructions. The Court's official Rules page lists amendments made in 2024 and 2025.

1. Special Leave Petitions under Article 136

• Civil Special Leave Petition under Article 136
• Criminal Special Leave Petition under Article 136
• Application for exemption from filing official translation of annexures
• Affidavit accompanying SLP
• Advocate-on-Record certificate specimen
• Counter-affidavit in Supreme Court
• Rejoinder affidavit
• Application for withdrawal of SLP

2. Civil Appeals

• Civil appeal under section 22 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
• Legacy consumer appeal specimen use CPA 2019 s.67 where applicable

3. Writ Petition / PIL

• Writ Petition / Public Interest Litigation under Article 32

4. Review Petitions

• Review petition under Article 137 of the Constitution
• AOR certificate for review petition
• Application for permission to file review petition

5. Criminal Transfer Petitions

For proceedings governed by BNSS, the Supreme Court's power to transfer criminal cases and appeals is contained in section 446 BNSS. Section 406 CrPC continues to matter where the statutory saving for pending proceedings applies.

• Legacy criminal transfer petition under section 406 CrPC BNSS s.446 for current cases

6. Contempt Petitions

• Contempt petition under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971

7. Supreme Court Applications

• Application for impleadment
• Application seeking directions in a pending matter
• Miscellaneous application in a disposed matter
• Intervention application

Before Using Any Court Format

• Confirm the correct court, territorial and pecuniary jurisdiction.
• Check limitation and any mandatory pre-litigation notice or statutory remedy.
• Use the law in force for the relevant proceeding, including transitional or saving provisions.
• Follow current court rules for margins, font, indexing, pagination, affidavits, annexures, translations, court fees and e-filing.
• Draft facts, grounds and prayers specifically for the case rather than copying specimen pleadings mechanically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these formats ready to file exactly as shown?

No. They are specimens and must be adapted to the facts, applicable statute, limitation, jurisdiction, court rules and relief claimed.

Do old CrPC references still apply?

BNSS came into force on 1 July 2024. Section 531 repeals CrPC but preserves specified proceedings that were pending immediately before commencement. The correct procedural law therefore depends on when and how the proceeding commenced.

What law applies to consumer complaints?

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 applies to current consumer disputes, together with the rules and regulations made under it. The 2021 jurisdiction rules currently prescribe the pecuniary limits shown above.