Order XXVIII - Written Statement, Set-off and Counter-Claim : Supreme Court Rules 2013

 

What is Written Statement, Set-off and Counter-Claim? Order XXVIII of Supreme Court Rules 2013

 

Order XXVIII of Supreme Court Rules 2013 : "Written Statement, Set-off and Counter-Claim"

1. It shall not be sufficient for a defendant in his written statement to deny generally the facts alleged by the plaintiff but he shall deal specifically with each allegation of fact of which he does not admit the truth, except damages.

 

 

2. Where a defendant denies an allegation of fact he shall not do so evasively but shall answer the point of substance.

3. Each allegation of fact in the plaint, if not denied specifically or by necessary implication, or not expressly stated to be not admitted in the pleading of the defendant, shall be taken to be admitted, but the Court may in its discretion require any fact so admitted to be proved otherwise than by such admission.

4. Where the defendant claims to set-off against a demand by the plaintiff any ascertained sum of money, he may in his written statement, but not afterwards without the leave of the Court, state the grounds of his claim and the particulars of the debt sought to be set-off.

S. The written statement containing the particulars mentioned in rule 4 of this order shall have the same effect as a plaint in a cross suit so as to enable the Court to pronounce a final judgment in respect both of the original claim and of set-off.

6. The rules relating to a written statement by a defendant shall apply to a written statement by a plaintiff in answer to a claim of set-off.

7. No pleading subsequent to the written statement of a defendant other than by way of defence to a setoff shall be presented except by the leave of the Court and upon such terms as the Court may think fit, but the Court may at any time require a written statement or additional written statement from any of the parties and may fix a time for presenting the same.

8. Where any party from whom a written statement is so required fails to present the same within the time fixed by the Court the Court may pronounce judgment against him or make such orders in relation to the suit as it thinks fit.

9. The defendant, in addition to his right of pleading a set-off may set up by way of counter-claim against the claims of the plaintiff any right or claim in respect or a cause of action accruing to him either before or after the filing of the suit but before he has delivered his defence and before the time limited for delivering his defence has expired whether that counter-claim sounds in damages or not and the counter claim shall have the same effect as a cross-suit, so as to enable the Court to pronounce a final judgment in the same suit, both on the original claim and on the counter-claim.

10. The Court may, if in its opinion the counter-claim cannot be disposed of in the pending suit or ought not to be allowed, refuse permission to the defendant to avail himself thereof, and require him to file a separate suit.