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Civil Suit Rules (Assam)

Assam Civil Court Rules for Sub-ordinate Courts

CHAPTER I  General Instructions

1. (1) It is the duty of the Legal Remembrancer to superintend and advise on the conduct of all litigation, civil or criminal, in which Government or Government officers or the Court of Wards are concerned in accordance with the rules prescribed in this behalf.(2) The Legal Remembrancer is bound to advise Government on all legal questions in connection with administration of public affairs, or arising out of the acts of Government officers or public servants which may be referred to him by Government.

2. All Government pleaders and Public Prosecutors throughout the State are under his direct control and supervision. All communications, relating to the appointment, removal, remuneration, leave, duties or conduct of these officers and other matters affecting them should be addressed to him.

3. Reference to the Legal Remembrancer for opinionOpinion A judge's written explanation of a decision of the court. In an appeal, multiple opinions may be written. The court’s ruling comes from a majority of judges and forms the majority opinion. A dissenting opinion disagrees with the majority because of the reasoning and/or the principles of law on which the decision is based. A concurring opinion agrees with the end result of the court but offers further comment possibly because they disagree with how the court reached its conclusion. may be made by the following officers only:

(a) The Secretaries of the State Government.

(b) Commissioner of Divisions and District Officers.

(c) Heads of Departments; and

(d) Local Authorities.

4. Municipalities should, as a general rule, be left to defend the legality of their own proceedings, and are not entitled to the advise of the Government LawLaw Positive command of sovereign or divine. One can be ruled either by a Statute, a Statue, or a Statement. Legislation is the rule-making process by a political or religious organisation. Physics governs natural law. Logical thinking is a sign of a healthy brain function. Dharma is eternal for Sanatanis. Officers. In case of special importance or difficulty, however, a reference may be made to Government to obtain the opinion or advice of Legal Remembrancer for the guidance of Municipalities in their proceedings, or in the defence of actions which have been brought against them, or with which they are threatened.

5. The following rules apply primarily to the conduct by a District Officer of all suits to which Government is a party. Heads of Departments are, however, authorised to perform the functions of Commissioner or District Officer, as the case may be, in any matter which is of departmental interest and does not affect the general administration of the district or any other department; provided that he shall consult the Legal Remembrancer in any matter concerning his own administrative office, and shall follow his advice.

CHAPTER II

Rules for The Conduct of Civil Suits Instituted by Government

6. District Officer to consult Government pleader. – Whenever a District Officer desires to file a suit on behalf of the Government, he shall prepare a statement of the facts of the case and the evidenceEvidence All the means by which a matter of fact, the truth of which is submitted for investigation, is established or disproved. Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Adhiniyam 2023 available, and shall transmit it, with all material documents, to the Government pleader of the district. It must be remembered that it is not the business of the Government pleader to ascertain the facts of the case, it will not be necessary at this stage to collect the witnesses who can give oral testimony, but the more important witnesses whose testimony is essential to the case should be questioned by a trustworthy officer and notes of their statements taken. A vague statement that oral evidence is obtainable is of no value. The notes should be attached to the statement of facts.

7. Further assistance to Government pleaders. – The District Officer shall also give the Government pleader any further assistance, information, or documents that he may require.

8. Government pleader to return papers. – The Government pleader shall then return the papers with his opinion to the District Officer. If he is of opinion that the suit should be filed, he shall also forward with the papers a draft plaint with the list of documents required by Rule 14, Order VII, Civil Procedure Code, in the form prescribed by Rule 22 on page 87 of the General Rules and Circular Orders of the High Court, Appellate Side (Civil) Volume I. The plaint must be in half-margin and drawn up in strict accordance with Rules 1,2,4,5 and 6 of Order VII and Rule 3 of Order XLVIII of the Civil Procedure Code.

9. Government pleader to draft plaint. – The District Officer may, if he thinks fit, require the Government pleader to prepare a draft plaint and list in case in which the Government pleader is of opinion that no suit should be brought, and the Government pleader shall comply with such requisition.

10. Reference to Legal Remembrancer. – On receiving the draft paint from the Government pleader, the District Officer shall make a reference to the Legal Remembrancer; provided that Small Cause Court cases less than Rs. 500 in value, which involve no substantial question of law not being cases of the Local Authorities brought may be with the sanction of the Commissioner and conducted under his instructions without reference to the Legal Remembrancer.

11. Papers to be sent. – In making reference to the Legal Remembrancer or in seeking the sanction of the Commissioner of Divisions under Rule 10, the District Officer shall submit the following papers or copies thereof:

(1) the Statement of Facts;

(2) the plaint as drawn by the Government pleader, together with a map of the locality, if necessary;

(3) the list required by Rule 14 Order VII, Civil Procedure Code, with copies of translations of such of the documents as are necessary to enable the Legal Remembrancer or the Commissioner to understand the case;

(4) notes of the statements of such witnesses as have been examined;

(5) the opinion of the Government pleader.

12. Arrangement of papers. – The papers shall be fastened together in the ordinary brief form and must be properly paged and indexed. The index will be the first page of the brief and will be in the Form A attached to these Rules. It will show also the dates on which the papers were sent to the Government pleader, returned by him to the District Officer, and submitted to the Commissioner, or the Legal Remembrancer, as the case may be.

13. Submission of brief to Commissioner or Legal Remembrancer. – The brief shall be submitted to the Commissioner or the Legal Remembrancer, as the case may be, with any further remarks or suggestions which the District Officer may think proper to offer. If the District Officer considers that the plaint drafted by the Government pleader is capable of improvement, he will insert his suggestions in the Government pleaders’ draft or submit a separate draft, but the Government pleader’s draft shall always be submitted.

14. Submission of report with brief to Government in special cases. – (1) In cases where it appears to the District Officer that the suit raises a question of general interest or administration importance upon which no authoritative decision has been pronounced, or if the suit seems likely to involve heavy expenditure, or if the amount at stake is considerable, or if for any other reason he thinks it advisable that Government should have an opportunity of considering the matter before litigation is begun, he shall report the case to the Government in the Department concerned, and shall with his report forward a copy of the brief.

(2) In such cases the Government Department concerned shall consult the Legal Remembrancer and upon receipt of his opinion shall issue such instructions to the District Officer as it thinks fit.(3) In the case of any suit which is likely to involve unusually heavy expenditure the Finance Department shall be consulted before instructions are issued.

15. [*****]

16. Brief to be submitted in timeTime Where any expression of it occurs in any Rules, or any judgment, order or direction, and whenever the doing or not doing of anything at a certain time of the day or night or during a certain part of the day or night has an effect in law, that time is, unless it is otherwise specifically stated, held to be standard time as used in a particular country or state. (In Physics, time and Space never exist actually-“quantum entanglement”). – The District Officer shall take special care that the papers are forwarded with such despatch that they may reach the Legal Remembrancer in sufficient time to enable him to consider thoroughly all the points on which his opinion is desired.

17. Urgent cases. – In cases of urgent necessity where delay might be very prejudicial, the District Officer may file a suit on has own responsibility, but in such cases he must report to the Legal Remembrancer having done so, and forward the brief with the least possible delay.

18. [*****]

19. Return of brief. – Except in cases dealt with under Rule 14(1) the Legal Remembrancer, after revising the pleadings will return the brief with his opinion to the District Officer.

20. Submission of report to Government by the Legal Remembrancer in certain cases. – Notwithstanding the fact that no action has been taken by the District Officer under Rule 14, if in the opinion of the Legal Remembrancer any questions are involved in the suit which the Government should have an opportunity of considering, he shall refer the case, with his opinion, to the administrative department concerned. The Legal Remembrancer shall be responsible for bringing to the notice of the Finance Department through the administrative department concerned, any case which is likely to involve unusually heavy expenditure.

21. Filing of plaint. – The brief, with the Legal Remembrancer’s opinion and any further instructions which the District Officer may think proper to give, shall then be made over to the Government pleader, who shall engross the plaint as approved by the Legal Remembrancer on stamped paper and file it in Court.

22. Arrest or attachment before judgement. – When a suit is instituted by Government, the District Officer shall cause an enquiry to be made as to whether there are grounds for proceedings against the defendant under Rule 1 or Rule 5 of Order XVIII, Civil Procedure Code, and, if necessary, shall direct the Government pleader to take action under either of these sections.

23. Filing of written statement. – When a written statement has been filed in a suit instituted by Government, the Government pleader shall send a copy of it to the District Officer with an abstract of any evidence by which it is supported and his own opinion as to its legal bearing.

24. Issues. – When the issues have been framed, the Government pleader shall send a copy of them to the District Officer and shall attach another copy to the brief. In transmitting the copy to the District Officer the Government pleader shall state the documents to be proved and the facts to be established.

25. Collection of evidence. – The District Officer shall then depute a trustworthy officer to collect evidence unless the evidence has already been collected. The Officer shall reduce the statement of the witnesses to writing and forward them, with any remarks he may think proper, to the District Officer.

26. District Officer to consult Government pleader. – The District Officer shall then consult the Government pleader in the sufficiency of the evidence and whether any further evidence, documentary or oral, should be given.

27. Process of witnesses. – When the day for the trial has been fixed, the Government pleader should apply for summonses on the witnesses he proposes to call, and the District Officer shall advance him a sum sufficient to defray the expenses of the witnesses and any other incidental expenses which it may be necessary to incur. The Government pleader shall also take any action that may be necessary in the course of the suit under Rules 10 to 13, 17 and 18 of Order XVI, Civil Procedure Code. At the end of the trial the Government pleader shall submit an account of the expenditure, which will then be entered as costsCosts Subject to any written law, costs are at the discretion of the Court, and the Court has the power to determine all issues relating to the costs of or incidental to all proceedings, including by whom and to what extent the costs are to be paid, at any stage of the proceedings or after the conclusion of the proceedings. Generally “Costs” includes charges, disbursements, expenses, fees, and remuneration. Costs in any matter are payable from the date of the order of the Court unless the parties otherwise agree. The costs of a third-party funding contract are not recoverable as part of the costs of, or costs. in the suit.

28. Defendant’s witnesses. – When the defendant files his list of witnesses, the Government pleader shall send a copy of it to the District Officer, and the Officer entrusted with the collection of the evidence shall enquire into the circumstances of those witnesses and furnish the Government pleader with materials for their cross-examination.

29. Report of result of suit. – When judgement has been delivered, the Government pleader shall at once report the result to the District Officer.

30. Submission of report to Government. – If at any stage of a suit any development occurs which, in the opinion of the District Officer, should be considered by Government he shall report the facts to the Legal Remembrancer who shall forward the report with his opinion thereon to the Secretary of the Government Department concerned, and shall forward to the District Officer any orders which may be passed by the Government.

31. Compromise. – If at any stage the District Officer is of opinion that a suit should be compromised, he should report the case, stating all the facts, for the orders of the Legal Remembrancer or the Commissioner, in case of a suit which has been instituted with his sanction under Rule 10. A copy of the Government pleader’s opinion shall also be forwarded. The Commissioner may either sanction the compromise of a case so referred to him or, if he thinks it expedient to obtain the opinion of the Legal Remembrancer, shall forward the papers with his recommendation to the Legal Remembrancer. The Legal Remembrancer may sanction the compromise in any other case.

32. [Omitted by C.S. No. 62

33. [Omitted by C.S. No. 62]

CHAPTER III

Rules for The Conduct of Civil Suit Against Government

34. Receipt of notice. – When a notice under Section 80, Civil Procedure Code is served on a District Officer and relates to a suit threatened against a department not under his control, he shall the same day forward it in original to the Head of the Department concerned.

35. Preliminary enquiry. – If the notice relates to a department under his control, the District Officer shall at once have a thorough enquiry made by a trustworthy officer into the circumstances of the case, and shall obtain the opinion of the Government pleader thereon. Here also it must be remembered that it is not the business of the Government pleader to ascertain the facts of the case. The District Officer must consider carefully whether the matter is one which should be settled out of court. If he considers that the matter should be settled, he shall endeavour to arrange with the notice-giver without prejudice to the terms of settlement, explaining carefully that he does so subject to the sanction of the superior authorities.

36. Submission of report to Commissioner or Legal Remembrancer. – He shall then submit to the Legal Remembrancer, or in Small Cause Court cases of less than Rs. 500 in value, to the Commissioner, a copy of the notice with a full report of the case and copies of such document as are necessary to its full comprehension. This report must be submitted within a month of the receipt of the notice.

37. Action by Commissioner. – If the notice relates to a claimA Claim A claim is “factually unsustainable” where it could be said with confidence before trial that the factual basis for the claim is entirely without substance, which can be the case if it were clear beyond question that the facts pleaded are contradicted by all the documents or other material on which it is based. valued at less that Rs. 1,000 and the District Officer reports that he has arranged a settlement of the dispute, the Commissioner may sanction the settlement arrived at. Otherwise or when in any case the Commissioner thinks it expedient to obtain the opinion of the Legal Remembrancer, the Commissioner shall, within ten days, forward the papers to the Legal Remembrancer with such remarks or suggestions as he thinks proper.

38. Suits without notice. – When a suit is brought against Government without the notice required by Section 80, Civil Procedure Code, having been served, the Government pleader should at once apply to the Court to dismiss the suit, on the ground that it has been instituted contrary to the provisions of the section.

39. Receipt of summonsSummons It means an application to the Court in relation to an action or appeal which has to be served on other parties or non‑parties.. – Whenever the Government pleader shall receive a summons to answer in an action brought against the Government he shall note the date of receipt on the back of the summons and shall at once forward it, with a copy of the plaint, to the District Officer. If in a suit against the Government or a Ward or Court, the description of the defendant in the summons is not in conformity with the provisions of Order XXVII, Civil Procedure Code, or the requirements of Part VII of the Court of Wards Act, 1879 (Bengal Act IX of 1879), the Government pleader shall at once, in his own name, file a petition stating that he has been wrongly served. The filing of such a petition does not require the sanction of the Legal Remembrancer, but if it be rejected a copy of the petition and of the order rejecting it, together with a copy of the summons and a statement of how it was served, shall be forwarded to the District Officer, who shall forward them to the Legal Remembrancer with the copies required by Rule 44.

40. Documents to be sent to District Officer. – The Government pleader shall also forward to the District Officer a copy of the list filed in accordance with Rule 18, Order VII, Civil Procedure Code, and copies, when procurable, of the material documents which are field with the pliant. When documents filed are voluminous, the Government pleader shall not delay the transmission of the copy of the plaint till copies of such of the documents as may be made are made, but shall at once forward the plaint and list.

41. District Officer to ascertain facts of the case. – Upon receiving the copy of the plaint and summons from the Government pleader, the District Officer shall note the date of such receipt, and shall at once proceed to ascertain the facts of the case unless the facts have already been sufficiently ascertained.

42. Defence. – If the District Officer is of opinion that the suit should be defended, he shall return the copies of the plaint and list, with a statement of the facts of the case and the evidence available to support the facts and with all material documents, to the Government pleader to draft the written statement. In cases of difficulty the District Officer shall arrange that the case be explained to the Government pleader by an officer acquainted with the facts.

43. Written statement. – The Government pleader shall then return papers to the District Officer with his opinion, and if he considers that there is a good defence to the action, he shall draft the necessary written statement, and prepare a list of the documents which the District Officer will be required to produce in court to support his case in the form prescribed by Rule 472 at page 206 of the Civil Rules and Orders of the High Court, Appellate Side, Volume I. These papers he will send to the District Officer, with such observations on the case as he may consider necessary.

44. Reference to Legal Remembrancer. – Upon receiving the draft written statement from the Government pleader, the District Officer shall make a reference to the Legal Remembrancer or in Small Cause Court cases of less than Rs. 500 in value of the Commissioner forwarding at the same time copies of the following papers:

(1) the Statement of Facts;

(2) the plaint;

(3) the list filed under Rule 22 on page 87 of the General Rules and Circular Orders of the High Court, Appellate Side (Civil) Vol. 1, with such of the documents as are necessary to enable the Legal Remembrancer to understand the case;

(4) the draft written statement as drawn by the Government pleader in half-margin, and the list prescribed by Rule 43;

(5) the opinion of the Government pleader;

(6) so much of the documentary evidence as is relevant to the case, and is available on behalf of Government.

So many of the papers forwarded under Rule 37 as are not included in the above list should also be re-submitted.

45. Papers. – The papers shall be properly fastened, paged and indexed. The index shall be in the Form B attached to these Rules and shall show the dates on which the papers were dealt with.

46. Rules applicable. – The provisions of Rules 13 to 21 and 24 to 31, shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to the conduct of civil suit against Government.

47. Proceeding against plaintiff. – Whenever the District Officer receives a summons to written statement in an action brought against Government, he shall cause an enquiry to be made as to whether there are grounds for proceeding against the plaintiff under Order XXV, Civil Procedure Code, 1908, and, if necessary, shall direct the Government pleader to take action under that section.

48. Defence of formal character. – When the defence to a suit brought against Government for the recovery of surplus sale proceeds of an estate sold for arrears of land revenue is of a formal character, amounting to an admission of the claimA Claim A claim is “factually unsustainable” where it could be said with confidence before trial that the factual basis for the claim is entirely without substance, which can be the case if it were clear beyond question that the facts pleaded are contradicted by all the documents or other material on which it is based., subject to proof of title, no report to the Legal Remembrancer is necessary on receipt of a notice under Section 80, Civil Procedure Code, and the defence to the suit may be filed without reference to the Legal Remembrancer.

CHAPTER III-A

Suits by or Against The Central Government

48A. Under Clause (a) of Rule 8-B of Order XXVII of the First Schedule to the Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (Act V of 1908) all Government pleaders in Assam have been appointed by the Central Government to be their Government pleaders for the purpose of the said Order in relation to any suit in any court in the State of Assam by or against the Central Government or against a public officer in the service of that Government. In relation to such suits all Government pleaders should perform the same functions as they do in suits against the State Government or against a public officer in the service of the Government of Assam and they will be remunerated in the same way as in the case of suits of this State. They shall give advice free of charge to any public officer of the Central Government serving in Assam.

48B. Whenever a Secretary to the State Government shall receive notice of a suit against the Central Government under Section 80 of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (Act V of 1908), he shall, as soon as possible after the receipt of the notice, take steps to forward a copy of the notice to the Central Government communicating therewith to that Government the views of the State Government as to whether the subject-matter of the suit falls within the executive authority of the Central Government or the State Government, and as to the arrangement, that should be made for defending the suit.

Chapter IV

Rules for The Conduct of Civil Appeals on Behalf of Government.

A-Appeals to the District Court

(1) When Government is appellant

49. Appeal on behalf of Government. – Where the decision in a case is adverse to the Government, the Government pleader shall, with the least practicable delay, obtain a copy of the decision and forward it to the District Officer. If the consider that an appeal should be preferred, he shall obtain certified copies of the judgement or order and of the decree, draft the grounds of appeal and forward these papers to the District Officer, together with his opinion on the case.

50. Government pleader to obtain copies of evidence, etc. – In all cases in which the Government pleader considers an appeal advisable, he shall obtain a copy of the order sheet and copies of the evidence of the witnesses and of any document filed, when were not included in the original brief.

51. And of additional statement, etc. – If any additional statement or important application is made to the Court in the course of the trial, copies of such statement or application and of the orders passed on it by the Court shall also be obtained.

52. Arrangement of papers. – The papers mentioned in the last two paragraph shall be properly fastened together, paged and indexed, the index being in the Form C attached to these Rules, and showing the dates specified therein.

53. Submission of papers to District Officer. – If the Government pleader is unable to procure the copies mentioned in Rules 50 and 51 within such time as will enable the District Officer or the Legal Remembrancer to consider them before the period for appearing expires, he shall not delay the submission of the papers enumerated in Rule 49, but in all such cases he shall explain the cause of his inability to procure the copies in time.

54. Reference to Legal Remembrancer. – Upon receiving the papers with the grounds of appeal from the Government pleader, the District Officer shall record his opinion, and forward them to the Legal Remembrancer.

55. Filing of appeal before receipt of Legal Remembrancer’s instruction. – If the period for appeal has almost expired before instructions are received from the Legal Remembrancer, the District Officer shall act on his own responsibility and file an appeal, if he thinks an appeal should be referred. When this is done, the fact should at once be reported to the Legal Remembrancer, and the Appellate Court should be asked to postpone the issue of notice to the respondent until the opinion of the Legal Remembrancer is received.

56. Submission of papers to the Government in special cases. – (1) If the District Officer thinks it desirable that Government should have an opportunity of considering whether an appeal should be preferred, he shall report the facts to the Legal Remembrancer who shall forward the report with his opinion thereon to the Secretary of the Government Department concerned and shall forward to the District Officer any orders which may be passed by the Government. The District Officer shall see that the report is sent in sufficient time to enable the Legal Remembrancer to obtain and communicate the order of Government before the expiry of the period of limitation(2) In other cases upon receiving the papers mentioned in Rule 54, the Legal Remembrancer shall decide whether an appeal should be filed, and return the papers to the District Officer.

57. Service of notice on respondent. – Whenever the District Officer receives notice of the date fixed for the hearing of any appeal in which Government is appellant, he shall direct a competent officer to cause notice of appeal to be served on the respondent, and the Government pleader shall see, on referring to the return, whether the service has duly been effected.(2) When Government has not appended, but an appeal has been filed by one of the parties.

58. Receipt of notice of appeal. – Whenever notice of any appeal against any order of any case in which Government has not appealed is served on the Government pleader, he shall enter on the back of the notice the date of its receipt and obtain a copy of the judgement appealed against, if not already in his possession, and shall transmit them to the District Officer, with a copy of the memorandum of appeal and with his opinion upon the case and upon the validity of the grounds taken in appeal.

59. Deposition of witnesses, etc. – The Government pleader shall obtain and submit to the District Officer copies of the order sheet, of the depositions of the witnesses, and of any documents filed, which were not included in the original brief, as also of any additional statements or important application made to the Court in the course of the trial, and of the orders passed on it by the Court. These copies shall be made in the form of a brief as described in Rule 52, properly paged and indexed.

60. Defence of case in Appellate Court. – The District Officer, on receipt of these papers shall take such measures as in his judgement may be necessary for defending the case in the Appellate Court. He need not refer the case to the Legal Remembrancer, except in case of doubt or difficulty or unless he desires to present an objection under Order XLI, Rule 22, Civil Procedure Code.

61. Procedure when the District Officer considers objection should be taken to the decree. – If the District Officer considers that under Order XLI, Rule 22, Civil Procedure Code, may objection should be taken to the decree he shall cause the Government pleader to prepare the necessary memorandum and shall forward it with a copy of the judgement in sufficient time to the Legal Remembrancer. If the opinion of the Legal Remembrancer be not received in time to allow of filing the memorandum before the expiry of the period prescribed by the above section the District Officer shall file the memorandum without awaiting it and report to the Legal Remembrancer the fact of his having done so.

62. Security for costs from appellant. – If it appears to the District Officer that there is reasonable ground for an application under Order XLI, Rule 10 of the Civil Procedure Code, he shall instruct the Government pleader to move the Appellate Court to demand security for costs from the appellant. If the appeal is frivolous, or if it is doubtful whether the appellant has sufficient means to pay cost, in the event of failure an application under this section should always be presented.

63. Rule 31 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to appeals.

B-Appeals to the High Court

(1) When Government is appellant

64. Applicability of rules. – Rules 49 to 54 shall, as far as they can be made applicable, be observed in cases in which Government desires to prefer an appeal to the High Court, except that the District Government pleader need not draft the grounds of appeal. To save limitation it is essential that the papers shall reach the Legal Remembrancer within one month from the date on which the decree was signed.

65. Opinion of Legal Remembrancer. – If the Legal Remembrancer be of opinion that an appeal should be preferred in the High Court, he shall despatch the papers to the Senior Government Advocate, who will draw up the grounds of appeal and submit them to the Legal Remembrancer.

66. Papers to be printed. – Upon receiving an intimation of an appeal having been filed in the High Court on behalf of Government, the District Officer shall send to the Senior Government Advocate a list of the papers which he considers necessary to be printed for conducting the appeal.(2) When Government is respondent

67. Procedure. – (1) When the District Officer receives a notice of an appeal to the High Court against Government, he shall send to the Senior Government Advocate a list of the papers to be printed on behalf of Government, together with a copy of the memorandum of appeal, if any, received by him, and a reply to the grounds of appeal.

(2) In case of an appeal being preferred against Government from an original decree or order a copy on plain paper of the Lower Court’s judgement appealed against should be sent to the Senior Government Advocate.

(3) In case of an appeal from appellate decree, not exceeding Rs. 50 in value, filed against Government, copies of plain paper of the plaint, the written statement, and the judgement of the lower courts should be sent to the Senior Government Advocate.

(4) In case of an appeal from an appellate decree, exceeding Rs. 50 in value, filed against Government, no paper other than those mentioned in Clause (1) need be sent to the Senior Government Advocate.

68. Papers to be printed. – When the District Officer receives a list of the papers to be printed on behalf of the appellant, he shall send to the Senior Government Advocate a list showing the papers which he thinks should be printed in addition to those mentioned in the appellants list

69. Objection in appeal. – If the District Officer considers that an objection should be filed under Rule 22 Order XLI, Civil Procedure, Code, in an appeal, he shall forward a brief of the case to the Senior Government Advocate to enable him to draw up the ground of cross-objection.

70. Application on behalf of, and issue of rule against, Government. – In case of an application to be made to the High Court on behalf of Government, and in case of a civil rule issued by the High Court against Government, the District Officer shall forward to the Senior Government Advocate, the necessary instructions and copies of papers in the case.

71. Submission of original paper. – In no case shall any original paper or document be sent to the Senior Government Advocate unless specially called for. But if any original document tendered by Government in the lower Court was rejected, it should be sent to the Senior Government Advocate under sealed cover.

C-Appeals to the Supreme Court

72. Appeal. – When the Senior Government Advocate is of opinion that an appeal should be filed on behalf of Government in the Supreme Court, he shall submit his opinion to the Legal Remembrancer.

73. Application for leave to appeal by a party other than Government. – When an application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court is filed by a party other than the Government, the District Officer shall, after obtaining tire Government pleader’s opinion, send a note to the Senior Government Advocate stating whether the application should be opposed, and if so, on what grounds.

74. Defence in appeal against Government. – When the District Officer thinks that an appeal to the Supreme Court should be defended by Government he shall communicate his opinion to the Senior Government Advocate when he receives notice of the admission by the High Court of such an appeal.

CHAPTER IV-A

Pauper Suits and Appeals

74A. When an application to sue or to appeal in forma pauperis is field in Court, notice in given under Rule 6 of Order XXXIII; of Rule 1 of Order XL1V of the First Schedule to the Code of Civil Procedure to the Government pleader, and an interval of at least 10 days is allowed for the production of evidence to disprove the applicant’s pauperism.

74B. On receipt of the notice the Government pleader shall at once submit a report to the Deputy Commissioner setting forth-

(a) the name, description and place of residence of the applicant;

(b) the brief claimed;

(c) the schedule of property belonging to the applicant; and

(d) the date fixed for hearing.

74C. The Government pleader shall examine the application and ascertain that the procedure enjoined by Rules 2 and 3 of Order XIII of the First Schedule to the Code of Civil Procedure has been followed and that none of the objections mentioned in Rule 5 of Order XXXIII of the Code can be taken to the petition. If he discovers any error or objection, he shall take the first opportunity of bringing it to the notice of the Court in a written petition.

74D. On receipt of the Government pleader’s report the Deputy Commissioner will cause an enquiry to be made into the plea of pauperism, and on the result of the enquiry, will instruct the Government pleader whether he should appear or not to oppose the application.

74E. The Government pleader should not appear to oppose an application to sue in forma pauperis unless directed to do so by the Deputy Commissioner. He should, however, appear to oppose all applications for leave to appeal in forma pauperis.

74F. Applications for leave to appeal in forma pauperis are often admitted when they might be successfully opposed under Rule 1 of Order XLIV of the First Schedule of the Code of Civil Procedure. Such application can only be admitted when the Court, “upon a perusal of the application and of the judgement and decree against which the appeal is made, sees reason to think that the decree is contrary to law or to some usage having the force of law, or is otherwise erroneous or unjust”. The point must, whenever possible, be taken by the Government pleader and strongly pressed upon the notice of the Court.74G. In some cases persons who cannot decide their disputes without the intervention of a civil court collude to bring a suit in forma pauperis. In other cases persons who would ordinarily all appear as plaintiffs put forward one of their number, who is a pauper, as the sole plaintiff and the rest are arrayed as proforma co-defendants. Before deciding not to oppose an application to sue in forma pauperis. Deputy Commissioners must satisfy themselves that there is no ground for suspecting collusion of any kind.

74H. When an application to sue or to appeal in forma pauperis is opposed by the Government pleader, he should invariably ask the Court to award him his costs in case the application be refused, and in such case he should obtain a copy of the order passed and submit it to the Deputy Commissioner.

74I. When the application to sue or the appeal in forma pauperis has been allowed and an order is made under Rule 10, Rule 11 or Rule 12 of Order XXXIII of the First Schedule to the Code of Civil Procedure, the Court is required by Rule 14 forthwith to case a copy of the decree to be forwarded to the Deputy Commissioner. The Government pleader should examine this decree carefully and see that all Government claims have been definitely included and charged by the Court to one of the parties to the suit. If this has not been done he should immediately apply for amendment of the decree.

CHAPTER V

Execution of Decree

75. Copy of degree to be sent to District Officer. – When a decree has been passed in favour of Government, the Government pleader shall at once apply for a copy of the same and forward it to the District Officer. A decree dismissing a suit against Government is a decree in favour of Government.

76. Entry of decree in execution. – Upon receiving a copy of the decree, the District Officer shall enter the same in his Register E. The District Officer shall keep up two execution registers in Form E, one for cases in which decrees have been given in favour of Government, and the other for cases in which stamp fees have to be realised in pauper suits. A separate page should be reserved for each decree.

77. Entry in Register for pauper suits. – The second register shall be written up as soon as a copy of a decree showing the stamp-fees which are due to Government is received from the Civil Court.

78. Enquiry about debtor’s property. – Before application is made for the execution of a decree, the District Officer shall ascertain what property, movable or immovable, the debtor possesses. Inquiries of this nature can be made through such trustworthy agency as the District Officer may think proper to employ. Bona fide travelling expenses-incurred by the Officer deputed by the District Officer to make the enquiry should be allowed.

79. List of debtor’s property. – The Officer to whom the enquiry has been entrusted shall, after completing his investigationInvestigation Purpose of all investigation is to reveal the unvarnished truth. The constitutional courts are duty bound to ensure that the truth is revealed., furnish the District Officer with a list of the debtor’s property, giving in the case of both movable and immovable property a complete description of the same sufficient for its identification by the Officer deputed to attach it, and the evidence available to show that the property to question belongs to the debtor.

80. Further instructions for execution. – After receiving the above report, the District Officer shall furnish the Government pleader with a copy of the list of the debtor’s property, and such further instructions and papers as may be necessary to enable the Government pleader to apply for the execution of the decree.81. Attachment of debtor’s property. – Upon the Court issuing orders for the attachment of the debtor’s property, the District Officer shall depute some one to accompany the attaching officer, and to point out the property.

82. Claims by third parties. – In case claims are made by third parties to the property attached, the officer on whose report the property was attached shall be directed to collect the evidence, by which it is proposed to show that the property belongs to the debtor, and he shall be present in Court and instruct the Government pleader when the case comes on for trial.

83. Execution of decree. – Execution should not be delayed till the period of appeal has passed, or while an appeal is pending. All applications to stay execution pending appeal should strenuously resisted unless and until good and sufficient security has been given. Delay for an appeal is often fatal to the recovery of the sum decreed and many judgement-debtors resort to an appeal simply to gain time to alienate their property. If the decree be reversed in appeal. Government is always in a position to refund the money.

84. Execution of decrees in pauper suits. – Execution of decrees for court-fees in pauper suits should invariably be taken out within a very few days so as to prevent the money decreed being realised and spent by the pauper decree holder. In suits in which the pauper has wholly or partly succeeded, Government has a first charge on the subject-matter of suit under Rule 10 Order XXXIII of the Civil Procedure Code and this charge can be realised by Government in execution in accordance with the decision in Ram Das v. Secretary of State, [18 All 419]. In such suits, therefore, the subject-matter of the suit, whether it be money or other property, movable or immovable, should invariably be proceeded against without any avoidable delay. No enquiry under Rule 78 is necessary to ascertain the property which is the subject-matter of the suit.

85. Quarterly statement of cases for realisation of decrees. – The Government pleader shall furnish the District Officer with a quarterly statement of cases, both civil and pauper, in which any steps have been taken for the realisation of a decree during the quarter. The statement will show the name of the case, the steps taken, and the result.86. Entry in register from the statement. – Upon receiving this statement, the District Officer shall make the necessary entries in his register, and shall call for explanation, if required, in those cases in which nothing has been done. If the explanation is unsatisfactory, the matter shall be reported to the Legal Remembrancer.

87. Inspection of execution register. – In the execution registers sufficient space should be left to enter all the successive steps which are taken by the District Officer for the execution of a decree. When inspecting the District Officer’s office, the Commissioner should scrutinise the entries in this register, and notice in his inspection report any irregularity which he may find in regard to the execution of the decree.

88. Payment of decretal money to District Officer. – When money has been paid into Court in satisfaction of a decree, the Government pleader shall at once obtain an application for a payment order duly signed by the District Officer and request the Court to grant him a payment order for the amount in favour of the District Officer, and forward the same, when received, to the District Officer.89. Government pleader not to receive money direct or to give receipts. – A Government pleader has no authority, and a District Officer cannot authorise him, to receive money direct from the Court or from any person indebted to the State, or to give receipts or valid discharges for any sum due to Government on any account whatsoever.

90. Special reward for the realisation of the amount of a decree. – When the realisation of the amount of a decree is due to the special exertions of any officer, the District Officer should represent the matter to the Head of the Department concerned, who may, subject to the control of the member of Government in charge of the Department, sanction to the disbursement of a sum not exceeding 20 per cent on the amount recovered as a special reward for such officer. Any officer who considers that he has a claim for this special reward may make an application to the District Officer, stating the grounds upon which the application is based.

91. Reward for realisation of decretal debt not exceeding Rs. 50. – When the decretal debt does not exceeds Rs. 50, the District Officer should direct the person of his office to make enquiries as to the debtor’s property when visiting his village for service of processes, and stimulate them and the village chaukidars by the grant of rewards up to 20 per cent on all sums realised by their exertions.

92. Decretal amount not recoverable by ordinary means. – When the District Officer considers a decretal amount to be not recoverable by ordinary means, he shall apply to the Legal Remembrancer for sanction to the transference of the amount to the last column of the Register (Form E in the Appendix), stating in his application the steps taken by him for the realisation of the amount and the reasons for their failure. In particular the application should state whether the action prescribed by Rule 84 has been taken in cases to which that rule applies. On receipt of such sanction and after the amount is entered in red ink in the last column of the Register, the District Officer shall take any steps he considers justifiable to realise the amount, including the offer of a percentage, but not the sale of the decree.

93. Officer-in-charge of Execution Department. – In every District in which there is at headquarters as Assistant Commissioner of sufficient experience, he should be placed in charge of the Execution Department. When there is no Assistant Commissioner of sufficient experience, a Senior Extra Assistant Commissioner should be placed in charge of the work.94. Definition of “District Officer”. – In this Chapter the words “District Officer” include any Assistant Commissioner, or Extra Assistant Commissioner who may be in immediate charge of this Department under the general control of the District Officer.

95. Decrees in favour of Court of Wards. – The rules in this Chapter shall apply to the execution of decrees in favour of the Court of Wards, but the duties therein assigned to the District Officer, shall be performed by the Manager under the control of the District Officer, except that Register E shall be kept by the Manager in duplicate and one copy shall be submitted on the 15th of each month for the inspection of District Officer.

96. Inquiries in Court of Wards. – Inquiries in Court of Wards’ cases shall be made by such officers as the Manager, under the general control of the District Officer, may appoint.

CHAPTER VI

Suits by or Against Government Officers

97. Report before bringing suits. – A Government Officer considering that a suit should be instituted to obtain redress for some wrong which he has suffered in connection with the discharge of his official functions should, whether he proposes to institute the suit on his own responsibility and at his own cost, or whether he desires that the suits should be instituted in his name under the orders and at the cost of the Government, submit, through his official superiors, a full report on the whole case to the Legal Remembrancer before taking any steps on the matter.

98. Suit without notice. – A Government Officer against whom a suit is instituted in respect to anything purporting to have been done by him in his official capacity without the notice required by Section 80, Civil Procedure Code, having been duly served on him, should, as a rule, move the Court to dismiss the suit, on the ground that it has been instituted contrary to the provisions of that section.

99. Procedure on receipt of notice. – When notice of an intention to institute such a suit is received by a Government Officer under Section 80, Civil Procedure Code, he should, whether he proposes to deal with the matter on his own responsibility and at his own cost, or whether he desires that it should be taken up in his name under the orders and at the cost of Government, submit a full report of the case, with a statement of the action he proposes to take, for the orders of Government, through the Legal Remembrancer, and before the receipt of such orders he shall, if possible, avoid taking any steps in the matter. Nothing in this rule, however, shall prevent him from entering into an arrangement for the amicable settlement of the case; provided that such arrangement is made subject to the sanction of the Government.

100. Assistance of Government pleader. – An officer preparing a report under Rule 97 or Rule 99, or presenting an application under Rule 98 shall be entitled to the assistance of the Government pleader.101. Procedure. – When Government undertakes the conduct of a case instituted by or against a Government Officer, the District Officer may deal with the suit in consultation with the officer concerned in accordance with the rules for the conduct of suits by or against Government, or he may, with the sanction of the Legal Remembrancer, delegate his duties to the officer concerned, on condition that the said rules are strictly observed.

CHAPTER VII

Rules in Regard to the Disbursement of the Remission of Money in Cases in which the Government or a Ward is a Party

102. Legal Remembrancer’s power to pay sum to carry on suit, etc. – The Legal Remembrancer is empowered to sanction the payment of any sum for the purpose-

(a) of carrying on any suit or appeal in which the Government is a party, or of which the Government undertakes the defence;

(b) of satisfying any decree against the Government or against any party whose defence has been undertaken by the Government; and

(c) of adjusting any suit or claim against the Government which has been compromised.

103. And to remit or write off sum. – The Legal Remembrancer is also empowered to remit or write off any sum due to the Government under the decree of a Court which is found to be recoverable.

104. District Officer, Commissioner or Heads of Departments’ power to disburse sums to carry on suit or appeal. – The District Officer in any case in which he is allowed to deal with the approval of the Legal Remembrancer, and Commissioner or Head of Departments in cases where they have power under the proceeding rules are authorised to sanction the disbursement of all sums which are necessary to be expended for the carrying on of any suit or appeal in which the Government is a party, if the Legal Remembrancer has directed that such suits shall be instituted or defended. Provided that the fees paid to counsel or pleaders engaged in any such suit or appeal shall not, subject to the provisions of Rule 107-A, exceed the fees, which, under the rules or the High Court, are payable by an unsuccessful party in respect of the fees of his adversary’s pleader.

105. Government pleader’s fees in contested analogous cases. – In contested analogous civil cases (including appeals) tried or heard together, Government pleaders will be paid, on behalf of the Government, their fees as awarded in the decree of the Court. When no such fees are awarded or assessed in the decree, a full fee, calculated according to the High Court rules, will be allowed for the case of the highest value decided, and a quarter of the full fee allowable for each of the other cases under the said rules.

106. In uncontested analogous cases. – In uncontested analogous civil cases, Government pleaders’ fees will be half of what would be payable under Rule 105.

107. And in cases decided on compromise etc. – In civil cases decided on compromise, or disposed of by consent of both parties. Government pleaders’ fees, as payable by Government, will be calculated as in cases decided ex parte, unless the Court in its decree assesses the fees payable to the pleaders in which case, the fees so assessed will be paid to the Government pleaders. Where a suit is decreed in part, the fees payable to the Government pleader should be calculated on the full amount of the claim.

107A. In any case governed by Rules 104, 105, 106 or 107, if it appears to the Deputy Commissioner that the fees arrived at on the calculation prescribed or as awarded in the decree are inadequate in view of the labour involved in the particular case, he may with the approval of the Legal Remembrancer, sanction such additional fees as in the circumstances.

108. District Officer, Commissioner or Heads of Departments’ power to disburse sums to satisfy decree, etc., against Government. – The District Officer in any case in which he is allowed to deal with the approval of the Legal Remembrancer, and Commissioner or Heads of Departments in cases where they have power under the preceding rules, are also authorised to sanction the disbursement of any sum in order-

(a) to satisfy any decree against the Government in cases where the law allows of no further appeal from such decree, or in which the Legal Remembrancer has advised that no further appeal shall be made; and

(b) to adjust or compromise any suit or claim against the Government which the Legal Remembrancer had directed to be compromised.

109. And in suit not reported to Legal Remembrancer. – Commissioner is also authorised to sanction the payment in any suit which, under Rule 10, need not be reported to the Legal Remembrancer, of any sum not exceeding Rs. 500 for the purpose of carrying on such suit or for satisfying the decree therein, or for compromising the same.

110. Remission of sums due to Wards’ estates under decrees. – The District Officer in any case in which he is allowed to deal with the approval of the Legal Remembrancer, and Commissioner or Heads of Departments in cases where they have power under the preceding rules, are authorised to remit or write off any sums due to Wards’ estates under decree of Court, which are found to be irrecoverable.

111. Instruction for satisfaction of decree or adjustment of suit or claim. – Whenever in any suit against the Government or against any person whose defence has been undertaken by the Government, a final decree has been passed, or when any such suit or claim has been compromised, it is the duty of the District Officer; to take the necessary steps for satisfying the decree, or for adjusting the suit or claim compromised. For this purpose he may issue any necessary instructions to the Government pleader, who will be responsible that the satisfaction of any decree or claim is duly recorded by the Court.

112. Assessment of mesne profits under a decree against Government. – The District Officer shall inform the Legal Remembrancer of any enquiry under Order XX, Rule 12 of the Civil Procedure Code for the assessment of mesne profits under a decree against Government and shall keep him informed of the progress and result of the proceedings. It will then be the duty of Legal Remembrancer to inform the Finance Department of any proceedings which are likely to result in the award of a substantial sum as mesne profits against Government.

113. Expenses of appeals to High Court in Wards cases. – To meet the expenses of appeals to the High Court, the District Officer shall, from time to time, deposit such sums as may be required by the Legal Remembrancer, to the credit of the “Litigation Fund”, and, in case of each deposit, send to the Legal Remembrancer, the duplicate challan for the amount deposited. No money will be received by the Legal Remembrancer, on this account, except when contributed by any party having the same interest with Government, in which case he shall deposit the amount received by him in the State Bank of IndiaIndia Bharat Varsha (Jambu Dvipa) is the name of this land mass. The people of this land are Sanatan Dharmin and they always defeated invaders. Indra (10000 yrs) was the oldest deified King of this land. Manu's jurisprudence enlitened this land. Vedas have been the civilizational literature of this land. Guiding principles of this land are : सत्यं वद । धर्मं चर । स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः । Read more, Gauhati, to the credit of the “Litigation Fund”, and report the fact to the Accountant-General, Assam.

114. Fee of Government pleaders. – The fee of Government pleaders payable by Government in contested land acquisition cases whether heard singly or with others before courts other than the High Court is fixed on the basis of the amount allowed by the court as pleaders’ fees under the High Court Rules; provided that if the fee so fixed is not in the Deputy Commissioner’s opinion sufficient, the Deputy Commissioner may recommend to the Legal Remembrancer a higher fee on the basis of daily attendance and the labour involved, both of which shall be clearly explained.In the case of a compromise in which each party is to bear his own cost, the fee will be fixed by the Deputy Commissioner in consideration of the labour involved.

115. Payment of fee to Government Advocate for appearance before the High Court, etc. – Whenever a fee is due from Government to a Government Advocate for appearance before the High Court or deputed from Calcutta to appear at the Muffassal Court on behalf of Government, it shall be paid by the Government on a bill countersigned by the Legal Remembrancer, and charged against the grant allotted to him for the purpose.

116. Fee allowed to Government pleader to High Court in Ward’s etc., cases. – A fee of Rs. 51, is allowed to the Government Advocate in every case of the Court of Wards or other institution below Rs. 1,000 in value. In cases of greater value, he receive the full legal fee.

116A. The Senior and Junior Government Advocates, Assam, shall be allowed the following fees for their appearance before the Assam High Court in civil cases:

(a)
First Appeals
Rs. 85 per day
(b)
Other matters
Rs. 51 per day
(c)
Matters relating to Articles 226-28 of the Constitution
Rs. 85 per day
(d)
Tax cases
Rs. 100 per day

117. Scale of fees in Legal Remembrancer’s office. – The following scale of fees has been adopted in office of the Legal Remembrancer:

Rs.

Rs.

Drawing plaints and written statements and memoranda of appeal
5
to
85
Settling appeals
5
85
Settling petition
5
85
Opinion
5
85
Compromise
20
85
Consultation
20
85
Motion
85

118. Statement of sums to be furnished to District Officers. – Fees, according to the above rules, will be charged for all legal business done for Wards’ estates. Statements of the sums due for the preceding financial year will be furnished to the District Officers concerned early in April every year, and the said sums should be recovered and credited to Government during that month.

19. Division of fee between pleaders. – Whenever in any suit one part of it has been conducted by one pleader and another part by another, only one regular fee shall be charged, and such fee shall be divided by the Legal Remembrancer between the two pleaders concerned in proportion to the labour undergone by each pleader.120. In cases to which the foregoing rules do not apply the Government pleader shall be entitled to a daily fee of Rs. 16.

CHAPTER VIII

General Rules

121. Legal Remembrancer to be consulted in every stage of litigation. – When time will permit, and when legal question of importance or difficulty arise, the Legal Remembrancer should be consulted in every stage of litigation conducted on behalf of Government.

122. Government pleader to take particular instructions when necessary. – Whenever any particular instruction seems requisite in the conduct of any suit, appeal or miscellaneous proceeding, the Government pleader shall take the orders of the District Officer and act upon them.

123. Institution or defence of civil proceedings in High Court. – No civil proceeding of any kind shall be instituted or defended in the High Court unless under the orders of the Legal Remembrancer.

124. Government pleader to draft plaint, etc. – All plaints, answers and written statements should be drafted by the Government pleader in English, and should be filed in Court in English unless there be good reasons for using the vernacular.All written statements should be in English. When any document that is not in English has to be submitted to the Legal Remembrancer, a translation should be sent in its place, unless the actual wording of the document is of importance, in which case a transliteration should be substituted. In no case should any document be submitted to the Legal Remembrancer in the vernacular character. In the case of maps it will be sufficient to write a translation under any vernacular words that appear on the map. The vernacular figures need not be translated.

125. Expenses of taking the copies of papers. – Copies of papers which the Government pleaders are required to take under these Rules shall be paid for by the District Officer as part of the expenses of the suit. Such expenses up to Rs. 50 in each case may be passed by the Deputy Commissioner; any sum beyond that amount should be passed by the Commissioner.

126. Entry of civil suits and appeals in register. – All civil suits and appeals to which Government is a party shall be entered in a register, in the Form D attached to these Rules. A similar register shall be kept up for each Ward’s estate by the manager.

127. Payment of sums due for Ward’s cases before release of estate. – The District Officer shall, whenever any estate under his administration is about to be released, ascertain from the Legal Remembrancer whether any sums are due on account of the legal business of such estate; and if so, he shall at once remit the amount due.

128. Annual Returns. – Annual returns in Forms G, H and J shall be submitted by District Officers to the Legal Remembrancer, Return G will consist of two parts,-Part I, statement of original suits, and Part II, statement of appeal, Return H will consist of two parts,-Part I, statement of costs in original suits, and Part II, statement of costs in appeals. Return J will consists two parts,-Part I, statement of decree realised and amount expended, and Part II, statement showing the number of decrees for execution. These returns should be submitted to the Legal Remembrancer on or before the 1st February of each year.

129. Information to Senior Government Advocate when taking charge of Ward’s estate. – Whenever the Court of Wards takes charge of an estate, it shall, if any litigation connected with the estate is pending in the High Court, submit to the Senior Government Advocate the name of the ward, together with an affidavitAffidavit An ex parte statement in writing made under oath before a notary public or other officer authorized to administer oaths, about facts which the affiant either knows of his own personal knowledge or is aware of to the best of his knowledge. in proper form, to enable him to have substitution on addition of parties duly made in the record of the proceedings of the High Court in connection with litigation.

CHAPTER IX

Employment of Government Pleaders in Revenue and Settlement Cases

130. Employment of Government pleader. – Whenever the District Officer considers the employment of the Government pleader necessary in a settlement of revenue case in which Government is interested, he may employ him, subject to the Legal Remembrancer’s approval.

131. Whenever it is found necessary to authorise the employment of the Government pleader before obtaining the sanction of the Legal Remembrancer, the District Officer should at once report his proceedings for that officer’s approval. The responsibility must rest with the District Officer in the first instance of deciding whether it is necessary to employ the Government pleader or not, and he must act on his own discretion in the matter, subject to the Legal Remembrancer’s control and criticism, if the discretion appears to have been improperly exercised.

132. Representation of Government in a revenue case before the High Court. – If a District Officer of a Head of a Department thinks it desirable that Government should be represented in any application or reference in a revenue case before the High Court, he shall at once send a letter to the Legal Remembrancer, Assam, giving a short statement of the facts of the case and his reasons for the requisition. On receipt of the letter the Legal Remembrancer shall ask the Senior Government Advocate to cause appearance to be entered on behalf of the Government unless, after consultation with the Revenue Department, he thinks that it is inadvisable that Government should be represented.

133. Fee for Government pleader. – A Government pleader is allowed a fee of Rs. 16 a day for appearance before a Collector or a Deputy Collector. For appearance before the Assam Board of Revenue a Government pleader will be allowed fees not exceeding Rs. 100 according to the amount fixed by that authority.

134. Payment of Government pleader’s bills. – Government pleaders will draw their bills, showing the particulars of the cases with respect to which the fees are due to them, and the bills will be paid at the treasury, after they have been passed by the District Officer as correct. In the case of appearance before the Assam Board of Revenue the Government pleader shall certify on the bills that the Board have fixed the fees by order. The bills for fees of pleaders in connection with civil cases and pauper suits are to be countersigned by the Commissioner of Divisions, Assam and Heads of Departments. In Sadiya and Balipara Frontier Tracts such bills are to be countersigned by the Legal Remembrancer, Assam.

CHAPTER X

Government Pleaders

135. Duties to other officers. – All the duties that the Government pleaders owe under the foregoing rules to the District Officers, they also owe to other officers of Government entrusted with the conduct of Government suits. They are also bound to advise gratuitiously the head of any Government office on any legal matter affecting the interests of Government.

136. The Government pleader is bound to advise a Government Officer consulting him on behalf of any public body over whose proceedings the officer has power of supervision or control on payment of a reasonable fee. In the case of a dispute the fee will be fixed by Legal Remembrancer.

136A. The Government pleader shall not advise private parties on the validity of circulars of orders issued by Government or by the Heads of Departments, without the consent of Government.

137. Employment of associate pleaders. – In Government and Court of Wards cases, associate pleaders may be appointed by the District Officer subject to the sanction of the Legal Remembrancer. They will be paid out of the fees allowed by Rules 105-107; Provided that in intricate and heavy suits the Legal Remembrancer may sanction the payment of additional fee to the associate pleader.

138. Subordinate Government pleaders may be appointed at stations other than the headquarters of Districts. They will be subject to the control and supervision of the District Government pleader. They will be remunerated by fees according to the High Court Civil Rules.

139. All Government pleaders whether at headquarters or other stations shall be appointed by the State Government. Whenever the office of Government pleader is vacant, the Deputy Commissioner shall, in consultation with the District and Sessions Judge, submit the names of as many pleaders who are qualified for the appointment as he thinks desirable, or is directed to submit, with all necessary papers to the Legal Remembrancer who shall forward them to the State Government with his recommendations. On appointment by the State Government, the pleader selected will receive his deed of appointment through the Legal Remembrancer. All appointments made after 1st July, 1940 shall be for a period of three years and may be renewed for further periods if the incumbents are found fit and efficient.A Government pleader appointed before 1st July, 1940 shall retire at the age of 60 years unless on consideration of the reports of the Local Authorities Government consider that it is in the interests of the public service that he should be retained for a further period to be specified, which period may be extended on like conditions.

140. Filling in of temporary vacancy. – In the event of a temporary vacancy in the office of Government pleader, the District Officer shall, in consultation with the District Judge, appoint a qualified pleader to act in the office until such pleader is relieved by the Government pleader duly appointed or until his appointment is cancelled by the District Officer. The District Officer shall forthwith report to the Legal Remembrancer, the occurrence of every such vacancy and the making or cancellation of every such appointment.

141. Leave of absence. – Whenever a Government pleader shall desire leave of absence, he shall submit an application to the District Officer, who shall forward his application to the Legal Remembrancer, stating his opinion as to whether or not leave should be granted. If the District Officer considers that the leave should be granted, he shall recommend some pleader to fill the absentees’ place.

142. Removal, suspension or other punishment. – Whenever a District Officer shall see cause to recommend the removal or suspension from office or other punishment of a Government pleader, he shall submit a report of the facts of the case to the Legal Remembrancer. The Legal Remembrancer shall submit the papers with the recommendation to the Judicial Department for the orders of Government.

143. Disqualification for conducting suit. – Whenever any Government pleader is disqualified, either from the interest in the suit or from relationship to the parties, or from any other similar or sufficient cause from conducting any suit, the District Officer shall appoint some other pleader to conduct the suit, advising the Legal Remembrancer of his having done so and stating the reasons therefor.

Form A

Brief Index prescribed by Rule 12

Date on which the papers were sent to the Government pleader….Date on which the papers were returned to the District Officer..Date on which the papers were submitted to the Legal Remembrancer..

1

2

Description of papers

Page

Form B

Brief Index prescribed by Rule 45

Date on which summons was served on Government pleader…Date on which the papers were received by District Officer under Rule 39…Date on which the papers were returned to Government pleader under Rule 42…Date on which the papers were returned to District Officer under Rule 43. ..All dates fixed for hearing of case before submission to Legal Remembrancer..

1

2

Description of papers

Page

Form C

Brief Index prescribed by Rule 52

Date of judgement….Date on which decree was signed….Date of report by Government pleader under Rule 49…Date of submission to Legal Remembrancer under Rule 54…Date on which period of limitation expires…..

1

2

Description of papers

Page

Form D

Register of civil suits, original and appeal, in all Civil Courts

[Vide Rule 126]

Serial No.

Name of Court

No. on file of Court. In case of an appeal also No. of original suit

Parties to suit of appeal

Value of suit or appeal

Abstract of plaint and written statement, or grounds of appeal

Plaintiff or appellant

Defendant or respondent

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Date of institution

Date of decision

Purport of decision

When any amount is decreed to Government, amount so decreed and number of case in Execution Register

No. and date of the Legal Remembrancer’s letter sanctioning the plaint written statement, or appeal

Remarks

8

9

10

11

12

13

Form E

Register of civil and decree passed in favour of Government realised and outstanding to the district of………………………

[Vide Rules 76 and 95]

Sl. No.

No. of Register D

Party against whom decree is given

By what Court decided

Date of decree

Amount decreed

Date of execution

Costs of execution

Principal

Interest

Costs

Total amount decreed

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Further interest accrued on the total amount in column 9 up to date

Total of columns 9,11 and 12

Total realised

Balance

Remitted by the authorities

Net balance

Remarks explaining the steps taken on each occasion for the recovery of the balance in column 17, or why it could not be realised

Amount not recoverable by ordinary means.

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

Form G

(Part I)

Statement of original suits to which Government was a party in the District of…………………during the year 19…

[Vide Rule 128]

Government (Plaintiff)

Class of Courts

Total number of cases pending or instituted

Decided in favour of Government

Decided against Government

Total decided

Percentage of cases decided in favour of Government

Percentage of cases decided against Government

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Government (Defendant)

Total number of cases pending or instituted

Decided in favour of Government

Decided against Government

Total decided

Percentage of cases decided in favour of Government

Percentage of cases decided against Government

Remarks

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

Notes. Suits by or against Government Officers in respect of acts done or intended to be done in their official capacity, when the prosecution or defence is undertaken at the expenses of Government, should also be shown in this statement.

Form G

(Part II)

Statement of Civil Appeals to which Government was a party in the District of for the year 19..

[Vide Rule 128]

Government (Appellant)

Class of Courts

Total number of appeals pending or instituted

Decided in favour of Government

Decided against Government

Total decided

Percentage of cases decided in favour of Government

Percentage of appeals decided against Government

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Government (Respondent)

Total number of appeals pending or instituted

Decided in favour of Government

Decided against Government

Total decided

Percentage of appeals decided in favour of Government

Percentage of appeals decided against Government

Remarks

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

Notes. Appeals in suits by or against Government Officers in respect of acts done or intended to be done in their official capacity, when the prosecution or defence is undertaken at the expense of Government should also be shown in this statement.

Form H (I)

Statement showing the cost of Litigation to which Government was a party in the district of during the year 19….

[Vide Rule 128]

Part I-Original suit

Government (Plaintiff)

Government (Defendant)

Class of Court

Amount involved in Claims

Amount decreed

Cost of litigation

Amount involved in claims

Amount decreed

Cost of litigation

Remarks

For Government

Against Government

For Government

Against Government

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Instructions

(1) In columns 2 and 6 it will be sufficient to enter amount of the claims as given in the plaint or appeal.

(2) The suits which are not directly instituted by or against Government, but by or against officers of Government in respect of acts done, or intended to be done in their official capacity, should be taken into account when the defence or prosecution is undertaken at the expense of Government.

(3) In columns 5 and 9 should be shown the gross amount of costs involved in litigation’s, such as fees to Counsels or Government pleaders, and all expenses incurred in stamps, witnesses expenses, section-writers’ charges, etc., the information being given separately for each class of Court.

Form H(2)

Statement showing the cost of litigation to which Government was a party in the District of during the year 19..

[Vide Rule 128]

Part II-Appeals

Government (Appellant)

Government (Respondent)

Class of Court

Amount involved in Claims

Amount decreed

Cost of litigation

Amount involved in claims

Amount decreed

Cost of litigation

Remarks

For Government

Against Government

For Government

Against Government

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Instructions

(1) In columns 2 and 6 it will be sufficient to enter amount of the claims as given in the plaint or appeal.

(2) The appeals which are not directly instituted by or against Government, but by or against officers of Government in respect of acts done, or intended to be done in their official capacity, should be taken into account when the defence or prosecution is undertaken at the expense of Government.

(3) In columns 5 and 9 should be shown the gross amounts of costs involved in litigation’s, such as fees to Counsels or Government pleaders, and all expenses incurred in stamps, witnesses expenses, section-writers’ charges, etc., the information being given separately for each class of Court.

Form J

(Part I)

Annual Statement of Decrees realised and amount expended during 19….

[Vide Rule 128]

Items

Outstanding from last year

Awarded during the year

Total

Principal

Interest

Cost

Principal

Interest

Costs

Principal

Interests

Costs

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Decrees in Civil Suits
Decrees in Supreme Court appeals
Decrees in Pauper suit
Decrees in Miscellaneous
Total

Realised during the year

Remitted

Amount expunged from the returns, the decree having been set aside or barred by limitation

Principal

Interests

Costs

Principal

Interests

Costs

Principal

Interests

Costs

1

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

Decrees in Civil Suits
Decrees in Supreme Court appeals
Decrees in Pauper suit
Decrees in Miscellaneous
Total

Items

Total of columns 11 to 19

Balance

Amount expended in litigation during the year

Principal

Interest

Costs

Principal

Interest

Costs

Balance

Amount

1

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

Decrees in Civil Suits
Decrees in Supreme Court appeals
Decrees in Pauper suit
Decrees in Miscellaneous
Total

Awarded against Government in regular suits. In prosecution of suits. In defence of suits. In Supreme Court appeals. In pauper suits. In Miscellaneous appeals.

Instructions: (1) “Principal” means the amount of decree including costs of the suits, “Interest” means the interest which accrued after the decree. (2) “Costs” means the cost of execution. (3) Fraction of a Rupee need not be entered in the statement. (4) An explanation should be given of the difference, if any, between the total of columns 2,3 and 4 of this statement and the total of columns 23, 24 and 25 of the last year’s Statement J (Part I) as also with column 32 of the yearly statement for the preceding year.

Form J

(Part II)

Annual Statement showing the number of decrees for execution satisfied and pending in the Civil Courts of the district of during the year 19….

[Vide Rule 128]

Number of decrees pending from the previous year

Number of decreed received during the year

Total of columns 1 and 3

Number of decrees wholly satisfied

Number of decrees in which amount was remitted

Number of decrees set aside on appeal or review of judgement

Number of decrees the amount of which were expunged from the returns as having been barred

Number of decrees which remained unsatisfied at the end of the year

Remarks

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

N.B. – Only the number of decrees is to be shown in the statement.

Form K

[Vide Rule 134]

Allotment for this year-Rs. P.Total expenditure including the bill.

Bill No..

Head of Account…….

Voucher No…

“21. Administration of Justice-(a) Law Officer-(b) Legal Remembrancer-(c) Allowance and Honoraria-fee to Government pleaders”Bill for fee of Government pleader, Shri of……………………..for conducting Civil Suit during the month of…..

Number of cases

Number and date of Government sanction to the engagement of pleader

Court attended

Name of first plaintiff or applicant and first defendant or opposite party

Value of the suit

Date of attachment

Fees charged

Clerk’s remuneration

Remarks (certified copy of decree or order)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Rs. P.

Rs. P.

Rs. P.

Rs. P.

Total (in words)
Received payment

Checked with work
register and countersigned

Dated

District Magistrate

Government Pleader

Passed for Rs……………..Rupees……………….dated…..19…Legal Remembrancer, Assam, Shillong examined and entered, Pay Rs………………….. Rupees………………………………

Accountant

Dated………….19

Treasury Officer

(For use in the Account General’s Office)

Noted in page of Audit Register

Admitted Rs…….Objected Rs……. for reasons given below.

Auditor

Superintendent