Plaint Format: How to Draft a Civil Suit (Order 7 CPC) (2026)
How a plaint is built under Order 7 of the Civil Procedure Code: the cause title, facts, cause of action, jurisdiction, valuation, relief, and verification, with a skeleton template, how to fill it, where to file it, and the mistakes that get it rejected. Last verified October 2026.
Format · Civil Procedure · Plaint
A civil suit stands or falls on its plaint. A plaint that misses the cause of action, undervalues the suit, or is filed in the wrong court can be rejected or returned before it is even heard. This guide sets out how a plaint is built under Order 7 of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC), gives a skeleton template, and explains how to fill it, where to file it, and the mistakes that sink a case early. Last verified October 2026.
- What: the plaint is the written claim that starts a civil suit, governed by Order 7 CPC.
- Must have: cause title, facts, cause of action, jurisdiction, limitation, valuation, relief, and verification.
- Threshold risk: a plaint with no cause of action, undervalued, or barred by law can be rejected under Order 7 Rule 11.
- Where: the court with territorial and pecuniary jurisdiction, of the lowest grade competent under Section 15.
01Why the plaint decides the case early
The plaint is the first document in a civil suit and the one a court scrutinises first. Under Order 7 Rule 11, a court can reject a plaint at the threshold if it discloses no cause of action, is undervalued, is insufficiently stamped, or is barred by law.
So the plaint is not just a narration. It is a structured pleading that must tick every box the Code requires. Get the structure right and the suit proceeds; get it wrong and it can be thrown out or returned before any evidence is led.
A plaint is tested before it is tried. If it shows no cause of action, is undervalued, or is filed in the wrong court, it can be rejected or returned at the threshold.
02The parts of a plaint
Order 7 Rule 1 lists the particulars a plaint must contain. In practice a plaint has these parts, in order:
- Cause title: the name of the court, and the parties as plaintiff and defendant.
- Address and description of each party.
- Facts making up the claim, stated in numbered paragraphs.
- Cause of action and when and where it arose.
- Jurisdiction: why this court has territorial and pecuniary jurisdiction.
- Limitation: that the suit is within time, or why it is.
- Valuation of the suit for court fee and jurisdiction.
- Relief claimed, clearly and specifically.
- Verification under Order 6 Rule 15, and an affidavit in support.
03The skeleton template
Use this skeleton and adapt it to your facts. Replace the text in square brackets.
IN THE COURT OF [CIVIL JUDGE / DISTRICT JUDGE] AT [PLACE]
Suit No. ______ of 20__
[Name, parentage, address] ... PLAINTIFF
VERSUS
[Name, parentage, address] ... DEFENDANT
SUIT FOR [e.g. recovery of money / possession /
declaration and injunction]
The plaintiff above-named respectfully submits:
1. That [state the first fact: who the parties are and
their relationship].
2. That [state the facts giving rise to the claim, one
fact per paragraph, in sequence].
3. That the cause of action arose on [date] at [place],
when [state the event], and continues.
4. That this Court has territorial jurisdiction because
[reason], and pecuniary jurisdiction because the suit
is valued at Rs [amount].
5. That the suit is within limitation.
6. That the suit is valued at Rs [amount] for the purposes
of court fee and jurisdiction, and the court fee of
Rs [amount] is paid.
PRAYER
The plaintiff prays that this Court be pleased to:
(a) [first relief];
(b) [second relief];
(c) grant costs of the suit; and
(d) grant any other relief the Court deems fit.
PLAINTIFF
Through [Advocate]
VERIFICATION
Verified at [place] on [date] that the contents of
paragraphs 1 to __ are true to my knowledge and
paragraphs __ to __ are based on information believed
to be true.
PLAINTIFF04How to fill it, step by step
- Cause title: name the correct court and describe each party fully.
- Facts: tell the story in numbered paragraphs, in date order, with only the facts, not argument.
- Cause of action: state clearly the event that gives you the right to sue, and when and where it arose. This is what Order 7 Rule 11 tests.
- Jurisdiction and limitation: plead both expressly.
- Valuation and court fee: value the suit correctly and pay the proper fee.
- Relief: ask for exactly what you want, specifically; a vague prayer weakens the suit.
- Verification and documents: verify under Order 6 Rule 15, add the supporting affidavit, and file the list of documents you rely on under Order 7 Rule 14.
05Jurisdiction, valuation, and court fee
Three linked points decide where and how a suit is filed:
| Point | Rule | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Territorial jurisdiction | Sections 16 to 20, CPC | Where the cause of action arose or the defendant lives or property lies |
| Pecuniary jurisdiction | Section 15, CPC | File in the court of the lowest grade competent to try the suit value |
| Court fee | Court Fees Act (state) | Fee on the value of the relief; varies by state |
Court fee is often charged on the value of the relief, so undervaluing to pay less fee is a false economy: it is a ground to reject the plaint under Order 7 Rule 11.
06Where to file it
File the plaint in the court that has both territorial and pecuniary jurisdiction, and that is of the lowest grade competent to try the suit under Section 15. If you file in the wrong court, the plaint is returned under Order 7 Rule 10 to be presented to the right court, losing time.
At filing, you present the plaint with the requisite copies, the court fee, the supporting affidavit, and the list and copies of documents. The suit is then numbered and the court issues summons to the defendant.
07Common mistakes
- No clear cause of action, the most common ground for rejection under Order 7 Rule 11.
- Undervaluing the suit to save court fee.
- Filing in the wrong court on territorial or pecuniary jurisdiction.
- Ignoring limitation, or not pleading why the suit is in time.
- A vague prayer that does not ask for specific relief.
- Missing verification, affidavit, or the list of documents.
08Where Claw fits
Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.
Once a plaint is filed, the suit becomes a live matter with hearings, orders, and, if you win, enforcement. Claw tracks cases, orders and hearings across 9,102 courts, benches and forums, and searches 30 crore+ judgments with results in under 5 seconds. So you can follow your suit by party or advocate name, and research how courts have decided similar claims or applied Order 7 Rule 11 before you draft.
Claw does not use customer case documents to train AI models. Create a FREE Claw account to track the case by party or advocate name. When you win and need to enforce the decree, see how to file an execution petition, or research the law through case search across Indian courts.
09Sources and further reading
- India Code (Code of Civil Procedure, 1908): indiacode.nic.in
- Order 7, CPC (bare text): devgan.in
- Claw: clawlaw.in
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Court fees and local rules vary by state, so check the current requirement and take advice from counsel before you file.
10Frequently asked questions
What must a plaint contain?
The particulars in Order 7 Rule 1: the court and parties, the facts and cause of action, the territorial and pecuniary jurisdiction, a limitation statement, the valuation of the suit, the relief claimed, and a verification under Order 6 Rule 15 with a supporting affidavit.
When can a plaint be rejected?
Under Order 7 Rule 11, when it discloses no cause of action, is undervalued and the value is not corrected, is written on insufficiently stamped paper and not corrected, or is barred by any law. Rejection happens at the threshold, before evidence.
Where do I file a civil suit?
In the court that has both territorial jurisdiction (under Sections 16 to 20) and pecuniary jurisdiction, and that is of the lowest grade competent to try the suit value under Section 15. If filed in the wrong court, the plaint is returned under Order 7 Rule 10.
How is court fee on a plaint calculated?
Court fee is generally charged on the value of the relief claimed, under the Court Fees Act as applied in each state, so the rates vary. Undervaluing the suit to pay less fee is a ground to reject the plaint, so value it correctly.
What is the difference between a plaint and a written statement?
The plaint is the plaintiff’s statement of claim that starts the suit. The written statement is the defendant’s reply to it. The plaint sets the facts, cause of action, and relief; the written statement admits or denies them and raises defences.
Can I track my civil suit in Claw?
Yes. Once filed, Claw tracks cases, orders and hearings across the 9,102 courts, benches and forums it covers, with results in under 5 seconds, so you can follow your suit by party or advocate name. It tracks and researches the case but does not give legal advice.