# Indian Court Filing Procedures

## Overview

This reference covers essential procedural requirements for filing cases in Indian courts, including civil courts, High Courts, and the Supreme Court of India. Procedures are governed by the Code of Civil Procedure 1908 (CPC), various High Court Rules, and Supreme Court Rules 2013.

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## 1. Vakalatnama (Power of Attorney)

### Definition
A Vakalatnama is a document authorizing an advocate to appear and act on behalf of a party in legal proceedings. It is mandatory under Order III Rule 4 of the CPC.

### Essential Requirements

**Format Requirements:**
- Must be executed on stamp paper (value varies by state, typically Rs. 10-100)
- Signed by the party engaging the advocate
- Accepted by the advocate with signature
- Witnessed by at least one person (two recommended)

**Mandatory Contents:**
1. Name and address of the client (executant)
2. Name, enrollment number, and address of the advocate
3. Case details (case number, court, parties involved)
4. Scope of authority granted
5. Date of execution
6. Witness details and signatures

### Types of Vakalatnama

| Type | Scope | Use Case |
|------|-------|----------|
| General Vakalatnama | All proceedings in a case | Standard litigation |
| Special Vakalatnama | Specific acts (e.g., compromise) | Settlement negotiations |
| Retainer | Ongoing representation | Corporate clients |

### State-Specific Variations

**Maharashtra:** Electronic Vakalatnama permitted under Maharashtra e-Courts rules
**Delhi:** Standard Form V prescribed under Delhi High Court Rules
**Karnataka:** Affixation of photograph mandatory since 2019

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## 2. Memo of Parties (Array of Parties)

### Purpose
The Memo of Parties identifies all parties to the proceeding with their complete details, enabling proper service and jurisdiction determination.

### Required Information

**For Individual Parties:**
- Full legal name
- Parentage (son/daughter/wife of)
- Age
- Occupation
- Complete residential address with PIN code
- Contact details (phone, email where available)

**For Corporate Parties:**
- Registered name as per ROC
- CIN (Corporate Identification Number)
- Registered office address
- Principal place of business (if different)
- Name and designation of authorized signatory

**For Government Parties:**
- Correct designation of the officer
- Office address
- Department and ministry details

### Hierarchy of Parties

```
Plaintiff/Petitioner/Appellant
    |
    +-- Plaintiff No. 1 (Lead Plaintiff)
    +-- Plaintiff No. 2
    +-- ...

Defendant/Respondent
    |
    +-- Defendant No. 1 (Primary Defendant)
    +-- Defendant No. 2
    +-- Proforma Defendants (necessary but non-contesting)
```

### Common Errors to Avoid
- Incorrect description of minors (must mention "minor through guardian")
- Missing legal representative for deceased parties
- Incorrect array in appeals (must match trial court array with role reversal)

---

## 3. Court Fees

### Governing Law
Court Fees Act, 1870 (Central) supplemented by State Court Fees Acts

### Fee Structure

**Ad Valorem Fees (Based on Claim Value):**

| Claim Value (Rs.) | Fee Rate | Applicable For |
|-------------------|----------|----------------|
| Up to 1,00,000 | 7.5% | Money suits, recovery |
| 1,00,000 - 5,00,000 | 5% | Property disputes |
| 5,00,000 - 10,00,000 | 4% | Commercial matters |
| Above 10,00,000 | 3% (varies by state) | High-value litigation |

**Fixed Fees:**

| Proceeding Type | Fee (Approximate) |
|-----------------|-------------------|
| Caveat | Rs. 100-500 |
| Interlocutory Application | Rs. 50-200 |
| Appeal (non-pecuniary) | Rs. 500-2000 |
| Review Petition | Rs. 100-500 |
| Certified Copy | Rs. 5-10 per page |

### Payment Methods
1. **Court Fee Stamps** - Affixed on plaint/petition
2. **Treasury Challan** - For amounts exceeding stamp availability
3. **Online Payment** - Via e-Courts portal for e-filing cases
4. **Demand Draft** - Accepted by some High Courts

### Exemptions
- Legal Aid cases (Section 13 of Legal Services Authorities Act 1987)
- Government as party (in some states)
- PIL matters (judicial discretion)
- SC/ST litigants (in certain states)

---

## 4. E-Filing in Indian Courts

### E-Courts Project Overview
The e-Courts Mission Mode Project, initiated in 2007, enables electronic filing across District Courts, High Courts, and the Supreme Court.

### E-Filing Portals

**Supreme Court:** https://efiling.sci.gov.in
**High Courts:** https://efiling.ecourts.gov.in (unified portal)
**District Courts:** State-specific portals linked to eCourts

### Registration Process

1. **User Registration**
   - Advocates: Using Bar Council enrollment number
   - Litigants: Using Aadhaar/PAN verification
   - Government: Through designated nodal officers

2. **Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)**
   - Class 3 DSC mandatory for filing
   - Valid for 2-3 years
   - Issued by licensed Certifying Authorities

### Filing Procedure

**Step 1: Document Preparation**
- Convert all documents to PDF/A format
- Maximum file size: 25 MB per document
- Ensure OCR for searchability

**Step 2: Case Registration**
- Select appropriate court and case type
- Enter party details
- Upload plaint/petition and annexures

**Step 3: Court Fee Payment**
- Calculate fees using built-in calculator
- Pay via net banking/debit card/UPI
- Download fee receipt

**Step 4: Submission**
- Digitally sign the e-filing form
- Submit for scrutiny
- Receive acknowledgment with diary number

### Document Requirements

| Document | Format | Max Size |
|----------|--------|----------|
| Main Petition/Plaint | PDF/A | 25 MB |
| Annexures | PDF | 10 MB each |
| Vakalatnama | PDF with signature | 2 MB |
| Affidavit | PDF | 5 MB |
| Index | PDF | 1 MB |

### Scrutiny and Defects

**Common Defects:**
- Incorrect court fee
- Missing signatures
- Improper indexing
- Illegible documents
- Incomplete cause title

**Defect Rectification:**
- Timeline: Usually 7 days from intimation
- Re-upload corrected documents
- File defect removal application if contested

---

## 5. Physical Filing Checklist

### Documents Required (Standard Civil Suit)

1. **Original Plaint** (with court fee stamps)
2. **Copies of Plaint** (as many as defendants + 2)
3. **Vakalatnama** (original)
4. **Memo of Parties**
5. **List of Documents**
6. **Copies of Documents** (attested)
7. **Affidavit of Verification** (where required)
8. **Process Fee** (for service of summons)
9. **Index of Documents**

### Supreme Court Specific Requirements
- Petition in Form 28 (Supreme Court Rules 2013)
- Paper Book preparation as per SC rules
- Cover pages in prescribed colors:
  - White: Criminal matters
  - Green: Civil matters
  - Blue: Tax matters
  - Red: PIL/Letter petitions

### High Court Requirements
- Vary by state; check respective High Court Rules
- Generally require certified copies of impugned orders
- Compliance affidavit in some High Courts

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## 6. Service of Process

### Modes of Service (Order V CPC)

1. **Personal Service** - Direct delivery to party
2. **Substituted Service** - When personal service fails
3. **Service by Post** - Registered AD post
4. **Service by Affixation** - At last known address
5. **Service by Publication** - In newspapers
6. **Electronic Service** - Email/SMS (recent amendments)

### Timeline for Service
- Summons must be served minimum 7 days before hearing
- 30 days for defendants outside jurisdiction
- Publication requires 30-day notice period

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## 7. Key Timelines and Limitation

### Limitation Act 1963 - Key Periods

| Type of Suit | Limitation Period |
|--------------|-------------------|
| Money recovery | 3 years |
| Specific performance | 3 years |
| Possession of immovable property | 12 years |
| Tort claims | 1 year |
| Appeals to High Court | 90 days |
| Appeals to Supreme Court | 90 days |
| Review Petition | 30 days |

### Condonation of Delay
- Application under Section 5 of Limitation Act
- Must show "sufficient cause"
- No condonation for suits (only appeals/applications)

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## 8. Important Citations

- **Salem Advocate Bar Association v. Union of India** (2005) 6 SCC 344 - Case management and timelines
- **State of Punjab v. Shamlal Murari** (1976) 1 SCC 719 - Vakalatnama requirements
- **Byram Pestonji Gariwala v. Union Bank of India** (1992) 1 SCC 31 - Power of attorney
- **Re: Cognizance for Extension of Limitation** 2020 SCC OnLine SC 343 - COVID-19 limitation extension

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## 9. Recent Developments

### Commercial Courts Act 2015
- Specialized procedures for commercial disputes
- Pre-institution mediation mandatory (Section 12A)
- Stricter timelines for completion

### 2023 E-Filing Amendments
- Mandatory e-filing in Commercial Courts
- Video conferencing for arguments
- E-signing of orders

### Digital India Legal Initiatives
- National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG)
- E-Sewa Kendras for assisted filing
- Integration with DigiLocker for document verification

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*Last Updated: March 2026*
*Disclaimer: Court procedures may vary by jurisdiction. Always verify current requirements with the specific court registry.*