🔹Order 8 – Written Statement (CPC, 1908)
🔹Short Note (Hindi):
Order 8 batata hai ki defendant apna defence kaise court me likhit roop me deta hai.
Is written reply ko “Written Statement” kaha jata hai.
Ye plaintiff ke allegations ka answer aur denial hota hai — matlab defendant apni taraf se batata hai ki kya sach hai aur kya galat.
🔹Full Description (English + Hindi):
🔹 What is a Written Statement?
A Written Statement is the formal written reply filed by the Defendant in response to the Plaintiff’s Plaint.
It contains the defendant’s version of facts, denials, admissions, and any new facts supporting his defence.
🔹In simple terms, Plaint = Case shuru karne ka paper
and Written Statement = Uska jawab (defence).
🔹Purpose of Written Statement:
- To deny or admit the allegations made in the Plaint.
- To present defendant’s version of the story.
- To narrow down the issues for court decision.
- To raise legal defences like limitation, jurisdiction, or no cause of action.
🔹 Important Rules under Order 8:
Rule 1 – Time for filing Written Statement:
Defendant ko 30 days ke andar written statement file karni hoti hai jab usse summons milta hai.
Agar valid reason ho, court maximum 90 days tak time de sakti hai.
Rule 2 – New facts to be stated:
Defendant agar koi nayi baat batana chahta hai (like payment, fraud, release etc.), to wo written statement me hi likhni hoti hai.
Rule 3 – Denial to be specific:
Defendant ko clear aur specific denial karna hota hai — vague ya general denial nahi chalega.
Rule 4 – Evasive denial not allowed:
Defendant ko har allegation ka point-wise jawab dena hota hai. Agar wo evade kare (seedha jawab na de), to allegation admitted maana jata hai.
Rule 5 – Effect of admission:
Jo allegations defendant deny nahi karta, wo admitted maan liye jate hain.
Rule 6 – Set-off:
Agar plaintiff par bhi defendant ka paisa banta hai (e.g., dono ke beech transaction hai), to defendant apni claim ko set-off ke form me likh sakta hai.
Rule 6A – Counter Claim:
Defendant apni taraf se bhi counter case file kar sakta hai plaintiff ke khilaf — jise counter claim kehte hain.
Example: Plaintiff ne paisa maanga, defendant ne bola “tum mujhe bhi ₹10,000 dene ho” — ye counter claim hai.
🔹 Consequences of Not Filing Written Statement:
Agar defendant time pe written statement file nahi karta,
- Court ex parte order de sakti hai (case one-sided chalega).
- Plaintiff ke allegations admitted maan liye jate hain.
🔹 Example:
Ravi ne Mohit ke against paisa vasooli ka case file kiya.
Mohit ne 30 days ke andar apni Written Statement di, jisme usne likha ki paisa already wapas kar diya gaya tha.
Court ne dono version ke basis par trial start kiya.
🔹 Important Case Laws:
- Salem Advocate Bar Association vs Union of India (2005) – 90 days ka limit strict nahi hai, court delay justify hone par allow kar sakti hai.
- Modula India vs Kamakshya Singh Deo (1988) – Defendant can file written statement even if ex parte, before judgment.
- Balraj Taneja vs Sunil Madan (1999) – Admission and denial must be clear and specific.
🔹Summary Table:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Order | Order 8 CPC |
| Subject | Written Statement |
| Filed by | Defendant |
| Time Limit | 30 days (extendable to 90 days) |
| Purpose | To deny or accept plaintiff’s claims |
| Key Rules | Rule 1–6A |
| Case Law | Salem Advocate Bar Assn. vs UOI (2005) |
🔹Nyay Neeti Advice:
- Hamesha written statement time par aur point-wise file karo.
- General denial mat do — har point ka clear jawab likho.
- Agar tumhara bhi plaintiff par claim hai, to counter claim ya set-off use karo.
- Late filing se bachne ke liye summons milte hi lawyer se turant contact karo.
