The Code of Civil Procedure (CPC)
The Bengal, Agra and Assam Civil Courts Act, 1887
EDITION: 2015
12 of 1887
11th March, 1887
An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to Civil Courts in Bengal, the North-Western Provinces and Assam.
It is hereby enacted as follows:-
CHAPTER 01: PRELIMINARY
SECTION 01: TITLE, EXTENT AND COMMENCEMENT
(1) This Act may be called The Bengal, Agra and Assam Civil Courts Act, 1887.
(2) It extends to the territories which were on the 11th March, 1887, respectively administered by the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, the Lieutenant-Governor of the North-Western Provinces and the Chief Commissioner of Assam except such portions of those territories as for the time being are not subject to the ordinary civil jurisdiction of the High Courts; and
(3) It shall come into force on the first day of July, 1887.
SECTION 02
(1) Rep
(2) All Courts constituted, appointments, nominations, rules and orders made, jurisdiction and power conferred and lists published under the Bengal Civil Courts Act, 1871 or any enactment thereby repealed, or purporting expressly or impliedly to have been so constituted, made, conferred and published, shall be deemed to have been respectively constituted, made, conferred and published under this Act; and
(3) Any enactment or document referring to the Bengal Civil Courts Act, 1871, or to any enactment thereby repealed, shall be construed to refer to this Act or to the corresponding portion thereof.
Comment: this act has been extended in Assam in 1947
CHAPTER 02: CONSTITUTION OF CIVIL COURTS
SECTION 03: CLASSES OF COURTS
There shall be the following classes of Civil Courts under this Act, namely:-
(1) the Court of the District Judge;
(2) the Court of the Additional Judge;
(3) the Court of the Subordinate Judge; and
(4) the Court of the Munsif.
STATE AMENDMENT
Bihar
Amendment in Section-3 of the Bengal, Agra and Assam Civil Courts Act, 1887 (Act 12 of 1887).– In Bengal, Agra and Assam Civil Courts Act 1887 (Act, 12 of 1887) (herein after referred to as the said Act) in Clause-(3) of Section-3 for the words “Subordinate Judge” words and bracket “Civil Judge (Senior Division)” and in Clause (4) for the words “Munsif” the words and bracket “Civil Judge (Junior Division)” shall be substituted”
[Vide Bihar Act 14 of 2014, s. 2]
SECTION 04: NUMBER OF DISTRICT JUDGES, SUBORDINATE JUDGES AND MUNSIFS
The State Government may alter the number of District Judges, Subordinate Judges and Munsifs now fixed.]State Amendments
SECTION 05: NUMBER OF MUNSIFS – (Repealed by the Decentralization Act, 1914 (4 of 1914), S.2 and Sch., Part 1).
SECTION 06: VACANCIES AMONG DISTRICT OR SUBORDINATE JUDGES
(1) Whenever the office of District Judge or Subordinate Judge is vacant by reason of the death, resignation or removal of the Judge or other cause, or whenever 7[an increase in the number of District or Subordinate Judges has been made under the provisions of section 4-], the8[State Government or, as the case may be, the High Court] may fill up the vacancy or appoint the Additional District Judges or Subordinate Judges9.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a State Government from appointing a District Judge or Subordinate Judge to discharge, for such period as it thinks fit, in addition to the functions devolving on him as such District Judge or Subordinate Judge, all or any of the functions of another District Judge or Subordinate Judge, as the case may be. State Amendments
Uttar Pradesh
Amendment of section 6 of Act XII of 1887.–In section 6 of the Bengal, Agra and Assam Civil Court Act, 1887, herein after in this chapter referred to as the principal Act, in sub -section (2), for the words “state Government” the words “High Court” shall be substituted.
SECTION 07: VACANCIES AMONG MUNSIFS – (Repealed by A. O. 1937.)
SECTION 08: ADDITIONAL JUDGES
(1) Where the business pending before any District Judge requires the aid of Additional Judges for its speedy disposal, the State Government may,10[having consulted] the High Court appoint such Additional Judges as may be requisite.
(2) Additional Judges so appointed shall discharge any of the functions of a District Judge which the District Judge may assign to them, and, in the discharge of those functions, they shall exercise the same powers as the District Judge.
SECTION 09: ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL OF COURTS
Subject to the superintendence of the High Court, the District Judge shall have administrative control over all the Civil Courts under this Act within the local limits of his jurisdiction.
SECTION 10: TEMPORARY CHARGE OF DISTRICT COURT
(1) In the event of the death, resignation or removal of the District Judge, or of his being incapacitated by illness or otherwise for the performance of his duties, or of his absence from the place at which his Court is held, the Additional Judge, or, if an Additional Judge is not present at that place, the senior Subordinate Judge present thereat, shall, without relinquishing his ordinary duties, assume charge of the office of the District Judge, and shall continue in charge thereof until the office is resumed by the District Judge or assumed by an officer appointed thereto.
(2) While in the charge of the Office of the District Judge, the Additional Judge or Subordinate Judge, as the case may be, may, subject to any rules which the High Court may make in this behalf, exercise any of the powers of the District Judge.
State Amendments
SECTION 11: TRANSFER OF PROCEEDINGS ON VACATION OF OFFICE OF SUBORDINATE JUDGE
(1) In the event of the death, resignation or removal of a Subordinate Judge, or of his being incapacitated by illness or otherwise for the performance of his duties or of his absence from the place at which his Court is held, the District Judge may transfer all or any of the proceedings pending in the Court of the Subordinate Judge either to his own Court or to any Court under his administrative control competent to dispose of them.
(2) Proceedings transferred under sub-section (1) shall be disposed of as if they had been instituted in the Court to which they are so transferred;
(3) Provided that the District Judge may retransfer to the Court of the Subordinate Judge or his successor any proceedings transferred under sub-sec. (1) to his own or any other Court.
(4) For the purposes of proceedings which are not pending in the Court of the Subordinate Judge on the occurrence of an event referred to in sub-section (1), and with respect to which that Court has exclusive jurisdiction, the District Judge may exercise all or any of the jurisdiction of that Court.
SECTION 12: TEMPORARY CHARGE OF OFFICE OF MUNSIF – [Repealed by A.O., 1937.]
STATE AMENDMENT
Uttar Pradesh
Amendment of Act no. 12 of 1887.– In the Bengal, Agra and Assam Civil Courts Act, 1887hereinafter referred to as the principal Act,–
(a) in Section 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 13, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25, for the words “Civil Judge” and “Civil Judges” wherever occurring, the words “Civil Judge (Senior Division)” and “CivilJudges (Senior Division)” shall respectively be substituted;
(b) in Sections 3, 4, 13, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25, for the words “Munsif” an “Munsifs” wherever occurring, the words “Civil Judge (Junior Division)” and “Civil Judges (Junior Division)” shall respectively be substituted;
(c) for the existing marginal headings to the sections shown in Column I of the table below, the marginal headings as shown in Column II thereof shall be substituted, namely :–
Section Marginal headings as hereby substituted
4 Number of District Judges; Civil Judges (Senior Division) and Civil Judges (Junior Division)
6 Vacancies among District or Civil Judge (SeniorDivision)
11 Transfer of proceedings on vacation of office of CivilJudge (Senior Division)
18 Extent of original jurisdiction of District or Civil Judge (Senior Division)
19 Extent of jurisdiction of Civil Judge (Junior Division)
21 Appeals from Civil Judges (Senior Division) and Civil Judges (Junior Division)
22 Power to transfer to Civil Judges (Senior Division)appeal from Civil Judges (Junior Division)
23 Exercise by Civil Judge (Senior Division) or Civil Judge (Junior division) of jurisdiction of District Court in certain proceedings.
25 Power to invest Civil Judges (Senior Division) and Civil Judges (Junior Division) with Small Cause Court Jurisdiction.
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 25 of 1995, s. 2]
Bihar
Amendment of section 12 of 1887.– In the said Act, the word “Subordinate Judge” and the word “Munsif” wherever used shall be substituted by the words and bracket “Civil Judge (Senior Division)” and “Civil Judge (Junior Division)” respectively.
[Vide Bihar Act 14 of 2014, s. 3]
SECTION 13: POWER TO FIX LOCAL LIMITS OF JURISDICTION OF COURTS
(1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, fix and alter the local limits of the jurisdiction of any Civil Court under this Act.
(2) If the same local jurisdiction is assigned to two or more Subordinate Judges or to two or more Munsifs, the District Judge may assign to each of them such civil business cognizable by the Subordinate Judge or Munsif, as the case may be , as, subject to any general or special orders of the High Court, he thinks fit.
(3) When civil business arising in any local area is assigned by the District Judge under sub-section
(2) to one of two or more Subordinate Judges, or to one or two or more Munsifs, a decree or order passed by the Subordinate Judge or Munsif shall not be invalid by reason only of the case in which it was made having arisen wholly or in part in a place beyond the local area if that place is within the local limits fixed by the State Government under sub-section (1).
(4) A Judge of a Court of Small Causes appointed to be also a Subordinate Judge or Munsif is a Subordinate Judge or Munsif, as the case may be, within the meaning of this section.
(5) The present local limits of the jurisdiction of every Civil Court under this Act shall be deemed to have been fixed under this section.
SECTION 14: PLACE OF SITTING OF COURTS
(1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, fix and alter the place or places at which any Civil Court under this Act is to be held.
(2) All places at which any such Courts are now held shall be deemed to have been fixed under this section.
SECTION 15: VACATIONS OF COURTS
(l)Subject to such orders as may be made by the State Government the High Court shall prepare a list of days to be observed in each year as close holidays in the Civil Courts.
(2) The list shall be published in the Official Gazette.
(3) A judicial act done by a Civil Court on a day specified in the list shall not be invalid by reason only of its having been done on that day.
SECTION 16: SEALS OF COURTS
Every Civil Court under this Act shall use a seal of such form and dimensions as are prescribed by the State Government.
SECTION 17: CONTINUANCE OF PROCEEDING OF COURTS CEASING TO HAVE JURISDICTION
(1) Where any Civil Court under this Act has from any cause ceased to have jurisdiction with respect to any case, any proceeding in relation to that case which, if that Court had not ceased to have jurisdiction, might have been had therein may be had in the Court to which the business of the former Court has been transferred.
(2) Nothing in this section applies to cases for which provision is made insection 623orsection 649 of the Code of Civil Procedure or in any other enactment for the time being in force.
STATE AMENDMENT
Assam
Amendment of section 17.– In sub-section (2) of section 17 of the said Act, for the words and figures “in Section 623 or Section 649 of the Code of Civil Procedure” the words and figures “in sections 36, 37 and 114 of, and Rule 1 of Order XLVII in Schedule I to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908” shall be substituted.
[Vide Assam Act 6 of 1935, s. 3]
Bihar
Amendment of Section 17 of Act XII of 1887.– In sub-section (2) of Section 17 of the Bengal, Agra and Assam Civil Courts Act, 1887 (XII of 1887) (hereinafter referred to as the said Act), for the words and figures “in Section 623 or Section 649 of the Code of Civil Procedure” the words and figures “in Sections 36, 37 and 114 of, and Rule 1 of Order XLVII in Schedule I to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908” shall be substituted.
[Vide Bihar Act 12 of 1960, s. 2]
CHAPTER 03: ORDINARY JURISDICTION
SECTION 18: EXTENT OF ORIGINAL JURISDICTION OF DISTRICT OR SUBORDINATE JUDGE
Save as otherwise provided by any enactment for the time being in force, the jurisdiction of a District Judge or Subordinate Judge extends, subject to the provisions of section 15 of the Code of Civil Procedure-to all original suits for the time being cognizable by Civil Courts. (a) In Bengal. Assam and Bihar, the figures “1908” have been inserted at this place by Bengal Act 19 of 1935, Assam Act 6 of 1935 and Bihar Act 12 of 1960, S. 3, respectively.
STATE AMENDMENT
Assam
Amendment of section 18 and 39.– In Section 18 of the Said Act, after the words “Code of Civil Procedure”, the figures “1908” shall be inserted.
[Vide Assam Act 6 of 1935, s. 4]
Bihar
Amendment of Section 18 of Act XII of 1887. — In Section 18 of the said Act, after the words “Code of Civil Procedure”, the figures “1908” shall be inserted.
[Vide Bihar Act 12 of 1960, s. 3]
SECTION 19: EXTENT OF JURISDICTION OF MUNSIF
(1) Save as aforesaid, and subject to the provisions of sub-section (2). the jurisdiction of a Munsif extends to all like suits of which the value does not exceed one thousand rupees.
(2) The State Government may, on the recommendation of the High Court, direct, by notification in the Official Gazette, with respect to any Munsif named therein, that his jurisdiction shall extend to all like suits of such value not exceeding two thousand rupees as may be specified in the notification:
Provided that the State Government may, by notification in the Official gazette, delegate to the High Court its powers under this section.
STATE AMENDMENTS
Assam
Amendment of section 19.– In sub-section (2) of section 19 of the said Act, for the words beginning with “that his jurisdiction” and ending with “in the notification” the following shall be substituted, namely:–
“(a) that his jurisdiction shall extend to all like suits of such value not exceeding two thousand rupees as may be specified in the notification, or
(b) that so long as he holds Court at a place where the Court of a Subordinate Judge is held his jurisdiction shall extend to all like suits of such value not exceeding three thousand rupees as may be so specified.”
[Vide Assam Act 6 of 1935, s. 5]
Amendment of section 19.– In the Principal Act, in Section 19–
(i) in sub-section (1), for the words “seven thousand rupees” , the words “fifty thousand rupees” shall be substituted.
(ii) in sub-section (2), for the words “twenty five thousand rupees” the words “two lakhs rupees” shall be substituted.
[Vide Assam Act 44 of 2005, s. 2]
Amendment of section 19.– In section 19 of the principal Act, —
(1) in sub-section (1), for the words “one thousand rupees at the end the words three thousand rupees” shall be substituted:
(2) for sub-section (2) the following shall be substituted, namely:–
“(2) The State Government may, on the recommendation of the High Court, direct, by notification in the Official Gazette with respect to any Munsif named therein that his jurisdiction shall extend to all like suits of such value not exceeding five thousand rupees as may be specified in the notification:
Provided that the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, delegate to the High Court its powers under this section.”
[Vide Assam 9 of 1965, s. 2]
Amendment of section 19.–(1) In section 19 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), for the words “three thousand rupees” the words “seven thousand rupees” shall be substituted.
(2) In section 19 of the principal act, in sub-section (2) for the words “ten thousand rupees” the words “twentyfive thousand rupees” shall be substituted.
[Vide Assam Act 7 of 1993, s. 2]
Uttarakhand
Amendment of sub-section (2) of section 19.–In sub-section (2) of section 19 of the Bengal, Agra and assam Civil Courts Act, 1887–
“(2) Words ‘one lac’ for the words ‘twenty five thousand’ shall be substituted.
[Vide Uttaranchal Act 20 of 2005, s. 2]
Uttar Pradesh
Amendment of section 19 of act 12 of 1887.–for section 19 of the Bengal, Agra and Assam Civil Courts Act, 1887, hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as the principal Act, the following section shall be substituted, namely:–
“19 (1) Save as aforesaid, and subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), the jurisdiction of a Munsif extends to all like suits of which the value dose not exceed five thousand rupees.
(2) The State Government may, on the recommendation of the High Court, direct by notification in the official Gazette, with respect to any Munsif named therein, that his jurisdiction shall extend to all like suits of such value not exceeding ten thousand rupees as may be specified in the notification:
Provided that the State Government may, the notification in the official Gazette, delegate to the High Court its powers under this section.”
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 57 of 1976, s. 27]
Amendment of section 19.–In section 19 of the principal Act,-
(a)-in sub-section (1), for the words five thousand rupees the words ten thousand rupees shall be substituted;
(b)-for sub-section (2), the following sub-section shall be substituted namely:-
(2) the High Court may direct by notification in the official Gazette, with respect to any music named therein, that his Jurisdiction shall extend to all like suits of such value not exceeding twenty five thousand rupees as may be specified in the notification.
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 17 of 1991, s. 3]
Amendment of section 19 of Act no. XII of 1887.– In section 19 of the Bengal, Agra and Assam Civil Court Act, 1887 hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as the principal Act,–
(a) in sub-section (1) for the words “ten thousand rupees” the words “one lakh rupees” shall be substituted;
(b) in sub-section (2) for the words “twenty five thousand rupees” the words “five lakh rupees” shall be substituted.
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 14 of 2015, s. 2 ]
Bihar
Amendment of Section 19 of Act 12 of 1887. — In Section 19 of the Bengal, Agra and Assam Civil Courts Act, 1887 (Act 12 of 1887) (hereinafter referred to as the said Act).
(i) in sub-section (1) for the words “two thousand” the words “twenty thousand” shall be substituted;
(ii) in sub-section (2) for the words “five thousand” the words “thirty thousand” shall be substituted.
[Vide Bihar Act 19 of 1987, s. 2]
Amendment of section 19 of the Act, 12 of 1887.– In the said Act in Section-19 the words “the Jurisdiction of Munsif extends to all like suits of which the value does not exceed Thirty thousand rupees” shall be substituted by the words, numbers and bracket the Jurisdiction of Civil Judge (Junior Division) extends to all like suits of which the value does not exceed rupees 1,50,000/-(One lac fifty thousand rupees)”.
[Vide Bihar Act 14 of 2014, s. 4]
Amendment of Section 19 of Act XII of 1887. — In Section 19 of the said Act,–
(i) in sub-section (1), for the words “one thousand”, the words “two thousand” shall be substituted; and
(ii) in sub-section (2), for the words “four thousand”, the words “five thousand” shall be substituted.
[Vide Bihar Act 12 of 1960, s. 5]
SECTION 20: APPEALS FROM DISTRICT AND ADDITIONAL JUDGES
(1) Save as otherwise provided by any enactment of the time being in force, an appeal from a decree or order of a District Judge or Additional Judge shall lie to the High Court.
(2) An appeal shall not lie to the High Court from a decree or order of an Additional Judge in any case in which, if the decree or order had been made by the District Judge, an appeal would not lie to that Court.
SECTION 21: APPEALS FROM SUBORDINATE JUDGES AND MUNSIFS
(1) Save as aforesaid, an appeal from a decree or order of a Subordinate Judge shall lie-
(a) to the District Judge where the value of the original suit in which or in any proceeding arising out of which the decree or order was made did not exceed fifty thousand rupees, and
(b) to the High court in any other case.
(2) Save as aforesaid an appeal from a decree or order of a Munsif shall lie to the District Judge.
(3) Where the function of receiving any appeals which lie to the District Judge under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) has been assigned to an Additional Judge, the appeals may be preferred to the Additional Judge.
(4) The High court may, with the previous sanction of the State Government direct, by notification in the Official Gazette, that appeals lying to the District Judge under sub-section (2)from all or any of the decrees or orders of any Munsif shall be preferred to the Court of such subordinate Judge as may be mentioned in the notification, and the appeals shall thereupon be preferred accordingly.
CHAPTER 04: SPECIAL JURISDICTION
SECTION 22: POWER TO TRANSFER TO SUBORDINATE JUDGES APPEALS FROM MUNSIFS
(1) A District Judge may transfer to any Subordinate Judge under his administrative control any appeals pending before him from the decrees or orders of Munsifs.
(2) The District Judge may withdraw any appeal so transferred, and either hear and dispose of it himself or transfer it to a Court under his administrative control competent to dispose of it.
(3) Appeals transferred under this section shall be disposed of subject to the rules applicable to like appeals when disposed of by the District Judge.
COMMENT
SEC 23 General power of transfer and withdrawal [CPC]
SECTION 23: EXERCISE BY SUBORDINATE JUDGE OR MUNSIF OF JURISDICTION OF DISTRICT COURT IN CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS
(1) The High Court may, by general or special order, authorize any Subordinate Judge or Munsif to take cognizance of, or any District Judge to transfer to a Subordinate Judge or Munsif under his administrative control, any of the proceedings next hereinafter mentioned or any class of those proceedings specified in the order.
(2) The proceedings referred to in sub-section (1) are the following namely:-
(a) proceedings under Bengal Regulation 5. 1799 (to limit the Interference of the Zillah and City Courts of Dewanny Adawlut in the Execution of Wills and administration to the Estates of persons dying intestate);
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(d) proceedings under the Indian Succession Act, 1865 and the Probate and Administration Act. 1881. which cannot be disposed of by District Delegates: and
(e) references by Collectors under section 322C of the Code of Civil Procedure.
(3) The District Judge may withdraw any such proceedings taken cognizance of by, or transferred to, a Subordinate Judge or Munsif, and may either himself dispose of them or transfer them to a Court under this administrative control competent to dispose of them.
SECTION 24: DISPOSAL OF PROCEEDINGS REFERRED TO IN LAST FOREGOING SECTION
(1) Proceedings taken cognizance of by, or transferred to, a Subordinate Judge or Munsif, as the case may be, under the last foregoing section shall be disposed of by him subject to the rules applicable to like proceedings when disposed of by the District Judge: Provided that an appeal from an order of the Munsif in any such proceedings shall lie to the Distict Judge.
(2) An appeal from the order of the District Judge on the appeal from the order of a munsif under this section shall lie to the High Court if a further appeal from the order of the District Judge is allowed by the law for the time being in force.
SECTION 25: POWER TO INVEST SUBORDINATE JUDGES AND MUNSIFS WITH SMALL CAUSE COURT JURISDICTION
The State Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, confer, within such local limits as it thinks fit upon any subordinate Judge or Munsif the jurisdiction of a Judge of a Court of Small Causes under the Provincial Small Cause Courts Act. 1887 for the trial of suits., cognizable by such Courts, up to such value of not exceeding five hundred rupees in the case of a Subordinate Judge or[two hundred and fifty rupees] in the case of a Munsif as it thinks Fit, and may withdraw any jurisdiction so conferred
Provided that the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, delegate to the High Court its powers under this section.
CHAPTER 07: SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 36: POWER TO CONFER POWERS OF CIVIL COURTS ON OFFICERS
(1) The State Government may invest with the powers of any Civil Court under this Act, by name or in virtue of office,-
(a) any officer in the Chutia Nagpur,31[Sambalpur,] Jalpaiguri or Darjeeling District, or in any part of the territories administered by the Chief Commissioner of Assam except the district of Sylhet, or,
(b) after consultation with the High Court, any officer serving in any other part of the territories to which this Act extends and belonging to a class defined in this behalf by the State Government
(2) Nothing in33[sections 4-,5-,6-,8-,10-or11-] applies to any officer so invested, but all the other provisions of this Act shall, so far as those provisions can be made applicable, apply to him as if he were a Judge of the Court with the powers of which he is invested.
(3) Where, in the territories mentioned in clause (a) of sub-section (1), the same local jurisdiction is assigned to two or more officers invested with the powers of a Munsif the officer invested with the powers of a District Judge may, with the previous sanction of the State Government, delegate his functions under sub-section (2) of section 13-to an officer invested with the powers of a Subordinate Judge or to one of the officers invested with the powers of a Munsif.
(4) Where the place at which the Court of an officer, invested with powers under sub-section (1) is to be held has not been fixed under Sec. 14, the Court may be held at any place within the local limits of its jurisdiction.
SECTION 37: CERTAIN DECISIONS TO BE ACCORDING TO NATIVE LAW
(1) Where in any suit or other proceeding it is necessary for a Civil Court to decide any question regarding succession, inheritance, marriage or caste, or any religious usage or institution, the Muhammadan law in cases where the parties are Muhammadans, and the Hindu law in cases where the parties are Hindus shall form the rule of decision except in so far as such law has. by legislative enactment, been altered or abolished.
(2) In cases not provided for by sub-section (1) or by any other law for the time being in force, the court shall act according to justice, equity and good conscience.
SECTION 38: JUDGES NOT TO TRY SUITS IN WHICH THEY ARE INTERESTED
(1) The presiding officer of a Civil Court shall not try any suit or other proceedings to which he is a party or in which he is personally interested.
(2) The presiding officer of an appellate Civil Court under this Act shall not try an appeal against a decree or order passed by himself in another capacity.
(3) When any such suit, proceeding or appeal as is referred to in sub-section (1) or sub-section
(2) comes before any such officer, the officer shall forthwith transmit the record of the case to the Court to which he is immediately subordinate, with a report of the circumstances attending the reference.
(4) The superior Court shall thereupon dispose of the case under Section 25 of the Code of Civil Procedure-.
(5) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to affect the extraordinary original civil jurisdiction of the High Court.
SECTION 39: SUBORDINATION OF COURTS TO DISTRICT COURT
For the purposes of the last foregoing section the presiding officer of a Court subject to the administrative control of the District Judge shall be deemed to be immediately subordinate to the Court of the District Judge, and for the purposes of the Code of Civil Procedure, the Court of such an officer shall be deemed to be of a grade inferior to that of the Court of the District Judge.
SECTION 40: APPLICATION OF ACT TO STATE COURTS OF SMALL CAUSES
(1) This section and sections 15-,32-.37-,38-and39-apply to Courts of Small Causes constituted under the Provincial Small Cause Courts Act, 1887.
(2) Save as provided by that Act, the other sections of this Act do not apply to those Courts.
Sarvarthapedia Concept Cluster: Civil Court System under the 1887 Act
Central Node: Bengal, Agra and Assam Civil Courts Act, 1887
- Purpose: Consolidation and amendment of civil court law in colonial India
- Core Themes: Court structure, jurisdiction, administrative control, appellate hierarchy
- Anchoring Idea: Institutional design of civil justice at the district and sub-district level
Linked Core Concepts
- Civil Courts
- The Code of Civil Procedure (CPC)
- Judicial Hierarchy
- Territorial Jurisdiction
- Pecuniary Jurisdiction
- Administrative Superintendence
- Appellate System
- Procedural Law Interface
Cluster: Constitution of Courts
Node: Classes of Courts
- District Judge
- Additional Judge
- Subordinate Judge / Civil Judge (Senior Division)
- Munsif / Civil Judge (Junior Division)
Cross-links
- Connects to Judicial Hierarchy (vertical structure)
- Connects to Administrative Control (District Judge as nodal authority)
- Connects to Jurisdiction (each class defined by powers and limits)
Node: Appointment and Vacancy
- State Government and High Court roles
- Temporary arrangements (acting judges, additional judges)
Cross-links
- Links to Separation of Powers (executive vs judiciary roles)
- Links to Judicial Continuity (avoid disruption in justice delivery)
Cluster: Administrative Control and Court Management
Node: Administrative Superintendence
- High Court → supervisory authority
- District Judge → local administrative control
Cross-links
- Links to Judicial Independence (balanced with administrative oversight)
- Links to Court Efficiency (case distribution, staffing)
Node: Transfer of Proceedings
- District Judge’s power to transfer cases
- Ensures continuity when courts become non-functional
Cross-links
- Links to Procedural Flexibility
- Links to Natural Justice (fair trial despite administrative changes)
Node: Local Limits and Place of Sitting
- State determines territorial jurisdiction
- Courts assigned geographic boundaries
Cross-links
- Links to Territorial Jurisdiction
- Links to Access to Justice (geographic accessibility)
Cluster: Jurisdictional Framework
Node: Original Jurisdiction
- District and Subordinate Judges: broad jurisdiction over civil suits
Cross-links
- Links to Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
- Links to Subject-Matter Jurisdiction
Node: Pecuniary Jurisdiction (Munsif Level)
- Monetary limits define competence
- Adjustable by State Government and High Court
Cross-links
- Links to Judicial Decentralization
- Links to Case Load Distribution
Cluster: Appellate Structure
Node: Appeals from District and Additional Judges
- Appeals lie to High Court
Node: Appeals from Subordinate Judges and Munsifs
- Lower value → District Judge
- Higher value → High Court
Cross-links
- Links to Multi-tier Judicial Review
- Links to Error Correction Mechanism
Node: Transfer of Appeals
- District Judge may delegate appellate work
Cross-links
- Links to Judicial Efficiency
- Links to Workload Balancing
Cluster: Special Jurisdiction and Delegation
Node: Delegation to Subordinate Courts
- High Court may authorize lower courts for special proceedings
Cross-links
- Links to Probate and Succession Law
- Links to Functional Specialization
Node: Small Cause Jurisdiction
- Limited-value disputes handled summarily
Cross-links
- Links to Summary Procedure
- Links to Speedy Justice
Cluster: Procedural Continuity and Flexibility
Node: Continuance of Proceedings
- Cases continue despite jurisdictional change
Cross-links
- Links to Legal Certainty
- Links to Doctrine of Continuity
Node: Vacations and Validity of Acts
- Judicial acts valid even on holidays
Cross-links
- Links to Procedural Validity
- Links to Technical vs Substantive Justice
Cluster: Subordination and Institutional Hierarchy
Node: Subordination of Courts
- Lower courts subordinate to District Court
Cross-links
- Links to Hierarchical Governance
- Links to Appellate Supervision
Cluster: Substantive Decision-Making Principles
Node: Application of Personal Law
- Hindu law for Hindus
- Muhammadan law for Muslims
Cross-links
- Links to Personal Law System
- Links to Legal Pluralism
Node: Justice, Equity and Good Conscience
- Residual guiding principle
Cross-links
- Links to Natural Law
- Links to Judicial Discretion
Cluster: Judicial Ethics and Impartiality
Node: Disqualification of Judges
- Judges cannot try cases where personally interested
Cross-links
- Links to Bias Rule (Nemo Judex in Causa Sua)
- Links to Fair Trial Principle
Cluster: State and High Court Interface
Node: Shared Governance
- State Government: structural and administrative decisions
- High Court: supervisory and judicial control
Cross-links
- Links to Federal Judicial Administration
- Links to Checks and Balances
Integrative Cross-Cluster Links
Structural ↔ Jurisdictional
- Court classification determines jurisdiction scope
Administrative ↔ Procedural
- Transfers and control ensure procedural continuity
Jurisdictional ↔ Appellate
- Pecuniary and subject limits define appellate routes
Substantive ↔ Procedural
- Personal laws applied within procedural framework
Ethical ↔ Institutional
- Judicial impartiality reinforces legitimacy of hierarchy
Meta-Concept Cluster: Evolution and Adaptation
Node: State Amendments
- Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam modifications
Cross-links
- Links to Legal Evolution
- Links to Decentralized Lawmaking
Node: Colonial Legacy to Modern System
- Framework persists in present civil court structures
Cross-links
- Links to Indian Judicial System
- Links to Continuity of Legal Institutions
Network Insight
The Act functions as a foundational mesh where:
- Structure defines authority
- Jurisdiction defines power
- Procedure ensures continuity
- Appeals ensure correction
- Administration ensures efficiency
- Ethics ensure legitimacy
All clusters interlock to form a coherent civil justice system, with the District Judge acting as the central operational hub and the High Court as the apex supervisory node.
