LexThe city civil court act, 1953
West Bengal · state statute
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this actWest Bengal Act XXI of 1953' THE CITY CIVIL COURT ACT, 1953. - West Bcn. Acl XXVll of 1957. West Bcn. Act XVII of 1959. Wcst Bcn. Act XXXV of 1969. Wcst Bcn. Act LX of 1980. West Bcn. Acl XIX of 1982. - Wesl Ben. ACI XXVIII of 1990. [ Isr Septenrher; 1953.1 All Acr to esrnhlisfl an addiriorlol Civil Cotrn for ;Ire Ciry of Cnlcrrflcl. WHEREAS i~ is expedien~ ro es1abUsh an additional Civil Court for ~hc Ciry of Calcuua; I1 is hcrcby enacled & follows:- 1. (I) This ACI may bc called thc City Civil Court Acl, 1953. Shon lillr: and (2) 11 shall comc into iorcc' on such darc ns thc Slare Government co~~- may, by nohfica~ion in Ihc Oficial Gazette;appoin!. Iwnl. 2. In this Act, unless there is anyllung repugnam in the subject or kfinilions. conrexr,- (1) "Chicf Judgc" mcans rhc Chicl Judgc of the City Civil Court. appointed under sub-seclion (1) or sccrion 4; (2) "Ciry Civil Court" means [he Court cstablishcd under scction 3; (3) "City of Calcutta" means thc arca comprised within [he local limits ior hc timc being of thc ordinary original civil jurisdiction of hc High Court; (4) "High Coun" means the High Coun a1 Caicurm; (5) "pmcrcding" includcs any procccding arising out OF a sui! of a civil nature (not being a proceeding on appeal, reicrcncc, rcvision or any application to the High Courl) and any olher procccding whalsocvcr or 3 civil nature in the exercise of original jurisdiction not arising oul of a suit; (6) "Small Cause Coun" means the Coun of Small Causcs of xv or 1662. Colcut~a, consrilured undcr the Presidency Small Cause Couns ACI, 1882. 'For lhr Slalcmn~ oTObjccts md Rcacon~, set ~hc CuIctr~ro Gri:ctre. E~rm~nlirrcrn: dakd ihc 31st Mmh, 1953. Pm IVA. pzgt 463; for pmeedings ofrhc Wcst Bcngd kpslaiivc Assembly,src rhc procoxlings ofthe merrings of the W~~~BengdIcgislarivehscmbly hcld on ~hc l~t, ?nd and thc Slh May, 1953; and iorprocecdings orrhc \Vesl Brngal Legislalivc Council, see thc procrrdings olrbcrnccung of hc Wfsr Bcngal Lcgislaiivc Council held on ~hc I lth and 12th May. 1953. This Act wx brought into hrct wilhcfftct rmmrhc231d Fsbruuy, 1957,1,i.de Notilidon No. 1057-J.. dnled rhc 14th Fcbruaq, 1957, or the Judicial Ikpmmenr, pubtishcd in rhc Grlr~rrru Cnzetre. Errrnordirrflr), of thc 201h February, 1957, Pan 1. page 585. Tf~e Ciry Civil Corrt-t Act, 1953. XXI of 1953.1 6. Save as olherwise provided in [his Act, [he Codc or Civil ~roccdure. AdVOf ' Procedure, 1908, shall apply lo all suils and proceedings undcr !his Acl 19on. so far as i[ is consislenl wilh this Act. 7. All qucsuons, olhcr than qucslions rclaling ro proccdurc or L~W lob pnc~ice, which arise in suils or proceedings bcforc [he Cily Civil Coun. ~'?~i~~~d shall be dealt wirh and delermined according to [he law for !he time Civil Coun. bcing adminislered by the High Court in thc cxcrcise of its ordinary original civil jurisdiction. 8. (1) An appeal shalI lie to the High Court from- APPI- (a) cvery decree passed by thc City Civil Court; and (b) cvcry ordcr passcd by rhc City Civil Courr bcing- (i) an order specified in sub-seclion (1) of section 104 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and in parlicular, in Order XLIII of the First Schedule to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, or an order under clause (i) or clause (ii) of scclion 14, or (ii) any orhcr order, from which an appeal lies ro [he High Courl under any law. (2) (a) Thc period or limita~ion [or an appeal from a dccrcc or order of the City Civil Courl shall bc thirty days from Ihc datc of such decrcc or order. IXO~ 1908, (b) The provisions of [he Indian Limitadon Act, 1908, oher rhan hc portion of sub-sec~ion (2) of sec~ion 29 thereof, beginning wilh [he words ", and ror he purpose of determining" and ending with [he words "shall no; apply", shalI appIy to all suirs and procccdings triablc by the City Civil Court and to appeals and applicalions under his Act to thc High Cour~ from or in respec1 of any suit or proceeding. 9. [(Power oJHigh Co~rrt to renlove srrir orproceeditrg lo inelf:)-- 0111irfed hy s. 3 of the Ciy Civil Coa1.l (Anreirdtne)ir) Act, 1969 (West Betr. Acr XXXV of /969).] 10. (1) The Chief Judge may make such mangcmcnrs as he ~hinks lii-fqr [hc diskiburion of business of the City Civil Coun among thc Judges [hereof. (2) On the applicauon or any of thc panics and after notice to [he pardes and airer hcaring such of chcm as desirc to be heard, or if he is of opinion [hat il is ncccssary so lo do in ordcr to cnsurc propcr distribution 01 business or in order lo give effect to thc provisions or section 11, hen of his own morion and wihout such nouce. [he Chief Judge may ar any stagc- (a) transfer any suir or procccding pending before him for [ria[ or disposal ro any olhcr Judge OF the City Civil Court, or Tf~e Cic Civil Colrrr Act, 1953. [West Ben. Act (b) wirhdraw any suil or proceeding pending beinrc any other Judgc ol' that Court, and (i) try or dispose of the same; or (ii) ~ransicr thc same for trial or disposal ro any Judge orhcr than the Judge from whom it was withdrawn. (3) Whcrc any suil or proceeding has hen transicrrcd or withdrawn undcr sub-scction (2), [he Judgc who rhcrcaf~cr lrics such suit or proceeding may, subjccl lo any special directions in the case of an order of ~ransfcr. cirher rcrry i~ or proceed From rhc point a1 which il was transferred or withdrawn, as hc thinks fit: Provided 111at in a suit or procccding whcrc ~hc hcaring has already com~ncnced before the transl'cr or withdrawal, rhc Judgc shall rctry it if any of the parties prays for a rcujnl. 11. (1) Thc Chicf Judge, or any other Judge orlhe Cily Civil Courl, shall no1 rry any suit or proceeding to which hc is a pmy or in which hc is dircutIy or indirectly inrerested. (2) Whcn any sudi suit or proceeding comes before [he Chief ludgc, he sllall of his own mo~ion forthwilh lrnnslcr il undcr sccrion 10, to another Judge uf thc City Civil Courr. (3) When any such suit or procccding comcs bclorc any other Judge of the Ciry Civil Coun. hc shall of his own motion lorllrrvill~ transmit rhc rccord or suull suil of procceding ro rhe Chicf Judge with a report of the circums~anccs and rlle Chief Judge shall deal with such suit or procccding undcr seclion 10. 12. (1) In [he even1 oF~he dealh, rcsignaliun or rcmoval oiabscncc on lcavc of thc Chicf Judgc or oi his bcing incapacitatcd by illness or otllerwise Tram tke performance of his duries. or of his absence from the Ciry of Calcutta, [hc Judge of ~hc Cily Cit'il Courl ncxt in ordcr of scniori~y according 10 thc pcriod of '[service in the Wesr Bengal Wgher Judicial Servicel. w110 may be present, shall. wilhout relinquishing his ordinary duties, assume charge of the office of the ChielJudge. and shall continue in charge thereof unril he ofice is resumcd by lhe Chief Judgc or assumed by a pcrson appuinrcd thcrciu. (2) While in charge of thc oficc of rhc ChieF Judgc, such Judgc may, subjcci la any rulcs which thc High Court may makc in this bchall; exercise any of rhc powcrs of ihc Chicf Judgc. '~hcsc words wen: subs~ilutcd for rhc words "service in rhz Cily Civil Coun" by s. 2 of ~ht City Civil Court rhmrndmrn0 ACI. 1959 (Wesr Ben. ACI XVII of 1959). XXI of 1953.1 Tl~c Ciy Civil Col/r-I Act, 1 953. (S~CI~OHS 13-15.) 13. (I ) In Ihc cvcnl of thc death, rcsignation or removal or nbscncc vacancy in on lcavc of a Judgc or the City Civil Coun other than [he Clliel Judge, ~~~~~~~~r or of his being incapacitared by illness nr otherwise from the perfonnancc [hm the or his durics ar of his nbscncc from ~hc Cily of Calcutta, the Chief Judge ChiccJud~c~ [nay ~ransfer all or any of 111c suits and proceedings which were pending bcforc such Judgc, cilher ro himsclf or to any other Judge or thc Ci~y Civil Court. (2) Suits and proceedings transferred under sub-section ( I) shall bc disposrd of in thc manncr provjdcd in sub-scction (2) of seclion 10. 14. If at any slage of a suit or proceeding inslirutcd in thc High Coun or thc City Civil Coun, such Coun Finds ha[ for wan1 orjurisdicrion il cannot, or will not be able to, enterlain or decide the suil or proceeding and thnl it should have been instiruled in the City Civil Courl or the High Court, as thc eilsc may bc, the High Courl or 11ie Ciiy Civil Courl shall,- (i) order the plaint or the application LO bc rclurncd Tor prcscntntion lo ~hc City Civil Coun or the High Coun, as the case may be; and (ii) odcr thar in thc lcvy of any courl-fez- paynblc by a party 10 a suit or procccding in connec~ion with llie suil or proceeding in be City Civil Coufl or thc High Courl, as the cme may be, credir shall be given for any coufl-kc alrcady paid by such parry in connection witti tliz suit or procccding instilulcd in ~hc High Court, or the City Civil Courl and [hat any exccss stlnll bc rc~undcd. Rcrurn or pl:~in~ Tor \van1 of I jurisdiction I and provision lor crcdiring TLVS alrcady paid. 15. (I) The Srate Government shall appoint a person to bc thc Appoinuncnl , . Regisrrar of the Ci~y Civil Coua. orRcsis!rx and olclcrks (2) Thc Swc ~overnmknr shall fix [he nurnbcr or clcrks and o~hcr mdoil~cr minisrerial ofliccrs far rhr: Ci[y Civil Court. The 'appoinrrncnr or such $2~:~ clcrks and oihzr minisicrial oificcrs shall bc made by the Stale thrirdutic, Govcrnmcnl or, if in any class or classcs of cascs thc Slntc Guvernment so dirccrs, by the Chief Judge. (3) Subjrct 10 the superinrendence of the High Coun, Llv ChicrJu~lgc shall llavc administrative control over [he Registar of rhc Cily Civil Court, and thc clcrks and ministerial officers referrcd lo in sub-scc~ion (2), and may irarnc ?regulations prescribing the duties of such Rcgis~rilr. clcrks and mjuis~crial officers. or h'o~ificauondircctin~ t~~heu~~inrmento~rheclerksmd othcr nlinisictid oficcs atrachcd to tlic City Civil Coun or thc Ci~y Scssions Counshall hc made by the Chief Judge. see Norilicn~ion No. 71 08-1.. dared Z I .S.S9, pubhhcd in thc Cnlc~rrtu C;a:ctrc uT 1959, Pnr~ I, pagu 3184. Tor rhc Calcutta City Civil Couri Rcpuln~i~ns. 1Y57. .we Notificpuon No. nil. dared nil. puhlislird in thc Cfllcrrrro L'rrzefre of 1957. P;ln I. pages 3.131-3443. Tf~e Cio Civil Cortrf Acf, 1953. [West Den. Act ~olidnys and 16. (1 ) The Chicf Judge shall, beforc thc commencemenl of each vnm~ion. year, dmw up a list of holidays and vacalions 10 bc observed in the City Civil Courl, and shall submit the sanlc Tor the approval of ~hc High Court. (2) Such lis~, when ic has rcccived such approval, shall be published in [he Oflicinl Guzette and rtle said holidays and vacalionx shall be obscrvcrl accordingIy. hliorncys 17. (1) Alt persons cntcrcd as attorneys-at-law on the roll of thc cnrirlcdronc[ High Court shall be enGtlcd to act and plead in ~hc Ci~y Civil Courl. and plcad in 1111: Cily Civil Coun. (2) The provisions or sub-seclion (I) shall bc in addition lo and not in dcrogntion nf any law entitling a person, LO act and plead. or to plcad, as he case may bc, in the Cily Civil Court. SC~. 18. The Ci~y Civil Court shall usea sen1 of such form and dirncnsion as may, for thc time being, bc 'prescribed by [he S~atc Government. Acr Xr or 19og. RUI~. 19. (I ) The High Court may, from time lo lime, with the approval of the Governor, make rules' for thc purpose of giving effec~ lo the provisions or this Act. (2) In particular and withoui prejudice lo thc gcncrality or [he loregoing powcr, such rules may provide For all or any of the following matters, namely,-- (a) Ihc practice and proccdurc oi rhe Cily Civil Courl, so far as such rules are not inconsisrcnt with the provisions of this Act as rcad with the Code of Civil Procedure. 1903; (b) rcgisiers, books, accounls arid other records to be maintained by ~lle City Civil Courl: (c) returns, dalerncnls and other infomalion to be submilicd by the City Civil Coun from time 10 urnc ta the High Couit, and also to the Slare Govcrnmenr if requircd by the Slate Govcrrtmcnt; (d) thc manncr in which he period of service in he City Civil Caurl of rhc Judges of hat Court shall be calculaicd and the exercjsc of the powers OF rhc Chid Judge under sub- section (2) of sccdon 12; 'For nolificarion prescribing form and dimcnsion ol the scd [o bc wcd by the City Civil Coun, see No~ifico~ion No. 1196-J., daled 2 1.2.57, published in [he C~lcrtrm Gnzcrfc. Ertmordit~a~ or 1957, Pan 1: page 803. 'For'ThcRulcs oltheCdcu\aCiiy Civil Coun" madc incxcrck ot ~hcpowcs confcrrcd by s~c~ion 19. Aec Notific~ion Fv. 1073-R.O., dalcd [he 14rh Fchmary, 1957, or rhc High Coun. Appcllare Side, published in the Calrrrfm Gtrrerre. Ertmordirlorj, of lhc 20th Fcbruuy, 1957. Pm I, pages 59L612. XXI of 1953.1 The Ciry Civil Court Act, 1953. (Sec~iotu 20-22 arid rite Firsr Sct~cdrlrrle) (c) thc nlnnncr in which crcdit shall be given for court-fee alrcndy paid and thc mnnncr in which rcfund shall be made of any excess 01 coun-fee in cnscs whcrc a dirccrian has bccn issucd under ~hc proviso to clause (b) of sub- seclion (2) of sccrion 9,'or an ordcr has bccn made under clause (ii) of section 14. '(0 delegalion to the Regisuar of he City Civil Coun of any judicial, quai-judicial and non-judicial duBcs. 20. Nolhing in [his Act shall affecl any suit or proceeding pending saving of in rhc High Coun on the date on which this Act comes inro iorcc. and 5ui'snnd proclrding cvcry sucll suit or proceeding shall be continued as if this Acl had not Fndingin been passed. ~igh Coun. 21. The provisions of [his Acl shall have effec~ norwithstanding Aaro anything 10 thc contrary in any othcr law. including in particular [he :::& Lcttcrs Pa!ent of rhc High Court. including ktlers i I hlcnr. 22. The enaclrncnrs spccificd in thc Scctnd Schedulc are hereby Ar~~cnd~ncnls amcndcd in their applicarion ro )Vest Bengal to thc cxlcnl and in rhc :::ELE, manner mentioned in [he iourrh column of such Schcdule. THE FIRST SCHEDULE. [See section 5(4).] I. Suits and proceedings uiablc by the High Courl as a Court of Admiralty or Vice-Admiralty, or as a Colonial Courl of Admiralty. ?* * * * * * * *. 'Clause (0 ivx added by S. 3 OC [he City Civil Coun (Amcndrncnl) Act. 1959 (IVtst Bcn- ACL XVll of 1959). 'Irem 2, 3,4.5, 6, 7, 9 and I I were ornirlrd by s. 4 oflhcCiiy Civil Coun (Armndmmr) Acl, 1969 (Wesr Bcn. Act XXXV oC 1969). '11crm 8, 12, 13 and 11 scrc onlir~cd by s. 3 olihc City Civil Coun (hcndrncn~)Act, 1980 (WCSI Bcn. Acl LX or 1980). T11e Ci~y Civil Co~rrt Acr. 1953. [WCSC Dcn. Act 10. Sui~s and proceedings- (i) undcr thc Indian Companies Acl, 19 13l, or thc Banking VII or 19t3. Companies Act, 1949, or x of t949. (ii) rclaring to or arising oul of rllc constiturion, incorporation, Inanagcmcnr or winding up of corpora~ions. ' 10A. Proceedings for the rclicf or insolvcnl debtors triable by the High Court. 3* * * * * * * *. 15. Suirs and proceedings triable by the High Couri as a Court of malrimoninl jurisdic~ion. 16. Sui~s and procccdings minblc by [he High Court under any spccial law other rhan the Lettcrs Palenr. . 17. Suirs and procccdings lriablc by [he Small Cause Court. 'THE SECOND SCHEDULE (See section 22.) Year Numbcr Shorl Tirlc Amcndmenrs Acrs of [he Cenrral Legislature 1890 8 The Guardians In clausc (4) of sccdon 4, for lhe and Wards ACI, words "a High Court in thc cxcrcisc 1890. of irs ordinary original civiI juris- dic tion". ihc words "as respccls the . city of Calcul~a as dcfincd in thc City Civil Court Act, 1953, hc City ~ivi t Court establis l~ed under thal ACI" shall he subsrituted. 'The 1ndi.m Compmies Acl, 1913 (V11 of 19 13) w;rs rtpralcd by thc Cornpanics ACI, 1956 (1 or 1956). 'Irem 10h wa inscncd by s. 3 of ths Cily Civil Coun (Anvndrncnl) Act, 1982 (Wcsl Bcn. Act XIX or 1981). 'See fool-notc 1 on pagc 397, rrrrlr. 'Scc ~ML-nore 3 on pngc 397. trrlrc. 4- .-. ., .- . .. ... .... .. . . .. The Cip Civil Corrrr Act, 1953. XXI or 1953.1 (Tlrc Secolid Srlrerirrle.) Ycar Number Shor~ Titlc Amcndmenls 1 2 3 4 Acls of (hc Central Legislature \'csl Ren. AclXXInf 1953. 1912 4 Indian Lunacy (1) 1n clause (1) of sccrion 25, ACI, 1912. Tor the words "High Courts". the words "Ci~y Civil Court" shall be subslituted. (2) In scclion 26, in sub-section (I), for Lhc words "High Court", ~hc words "City Civil Court'' shall bc substiwtcd. (3) In Chapler IV under Parr 111, for scruon 37, he following sec~iun shall be subsriluled:- 37. Except as "Jurisdic- otherwisc pravided herbinafter in [his lunacy in Prcsjden- Chapter, thc Court having cytoIvn. jurisdiction under this Chapter shall be ~hc Cily Civil Court cstablished under he City Civil Court Acr, 1953.". (4) In secrion 39, alrcr [he rvvrds "Advocatc-General", the words "or the Government pleader" shall be inserted. (5) Scclions 43 and 44 shall be omiued. (6) In scction 45, !hc words "or the finding of the Disrrict Coun ro which the inquisition may have bcen referred under thc provisions of section 43 with such amendmcnls as may be made under the provisions of section 44, as rhc casc may bc," shall bc omitred. IThc cnlries bcginnin~ wirh "190s 3 The Prcsidcricy- owns Insolvency Act, 1909." and cnding wilh- '(12) In sub-section (1) or scclion 112. Tor thc words -The Couns having jurisdicrion undcr his Act", lhc words "Tht High Coun" shall be suhsriturcd'.' wen: ornincd by s. 4 of fhc Cily Civil Court [A~ncndmtol) Act, 1982 (\kt Ben. Acr XIX of 1982). The Ciry Civil Cosrt Acr, 1953. [West Ben. Acl (Tile Secotzd Sclredrrle.) Year Number Shost 5tle Amendmcnls 1 2 3 4 Ac~s of the Cenlral Lcgisla~urc 1912 4 Indian Lunacy (7) In [he proviso to scction 55, Act, 1912. for thc words "High Court" in the rwo places where thcy occur, the words "Ci~y Civil Courl" shall be substituted. (8) After section 60, thc following seclion shall be inser1ed:- ""pd'. hOA. An appcal shall lic lo the High Court from any ordcrmade by the City Civil Court, undcr [his Chap~er.". ' (9) In section 61, for the words "Thc Courln, he words "The High Court" shalI be substi~urcd. (10) In the proviso to sub-sccrion (I) of scclion 71, for rhc words "High COUFI". the words "City Civil Court" shall be subs~i~uled. (1 1 ) In Chnpler VII undcr Par1 IV, in sccdon 88, for the words , "High Courl", the words "Cily Civil Courl" shall be subslirurcd. 1925 39 Indian (1) To clausc (hb) or seclion 2, Succession [he following proviso shall be Acr, 1925. added:- "Provided that as respect the arca comprised wirhin ~hc local Iirni~~ for rhc time being of the ordinary originaI ci\4l jurisdiction of Ihc High , . Coun ar Calculra references to a Dislrict Judge in this Acl shall bc conskued as rcicrenccs to the Ci~y Civil I i Courl established undcr [he ~~~~~df Ciry Civil Coun Acr, 1953.". 1953. XXI of 1953.1 The City Civil Court Act, 1953. (The Secorld Sclledrrle.) - Ycar Number ShoATillc Amendmen~s I 2 3 4 Acts OF the Cenrral Legislalure 1925 39 Indian (2) In scction 273. clausc (a) of Succession thc proviso shall he ornirted. Acr, 1925. (3) In seclion 274, for sub- scclion (I), [he follorving sub- seclion shall bc subs~itu[ed:- "(1) Wherc probale or lelters of administration has or have been granted by a District Judge wirh [he eflcct rercrrcd to in rhc proviso Lo scclion 273, [he Districr Judge shall send a ccrtilicale thereof ro the High Court to which such Disrricl Judgc is subordinarc and to cach of the orhcr High COUIIS.". (4) Scction 300 shall be omincd. (5) For Schedule IV, rhe following Schcdule shall he substirured:- "SCHEDULE IV /See seclion 274(2).] FORM OF CERTIFICATE I, A. B., ........... hereby ccnify thal on the day of ......, ....... granred probate of rhc will (or Icuers of adrninislraliun of thc esrate) of C. D.. laic of ............... deceased, lo E. F. or ............. and G.H. of ..........., and that such probnre (or Ictrcrs) has (or have) effecr over all [he pmpcrly of lhc deceased ~hroughout India.". The Ciw Civil Corrrr Act, 1953. [West Ben. Act XXI of 1953.1 (The Sccot~d Scl~edirle.) Ycar Numbcr ShorlTitle An~endmenls Acrs or lhe Wcsr Bcngal Legislarurc 1956 XrI Thc West Bengal In the First Schcdulc, in clausc Prcnlises Tenancy (0, For sub-clauses (i) and (ii), the Acr, 1956. following sub-clauses shall be subs1itutcd:- "(I) whcrc Lhc value OF rhc suit does nor excccd '/rupees tcn IakhsJ-ro ihc Cily Civil Court as dcfined in [he City WC>~ Rcn. Civil Courl Act, 1953; $:;X1or (ii) whcrc lhe valuc or the suit exceeds '[rupees tcn lakhsl-to rhc High Courr nr Calcutla.".'. 'Tl~c words within the squwc bnckets wcn: subs~i~u~ed for ~hc words "one lJkh rups" by s. 3[a) or the Cily Civil Coun (Amcndmcnr) Acr. 1990 (Wcs~ Bcn. Acr XXVIlI of 1990). 'Thc words wcrc substiru!cd Tor thc words "rups onc lal;h by s. 3(b), ibid.