Free Judiciary Notes · CPC Notes
CPC Order 32 Part 2
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SUITS BY OR AGAINST MINORS AND PERSONS OF UNSOUND MIND
1. Minor to sue by next friend— Every suit by a minor shall be instituted in his name by a person who in such shall be called the next friend of the minor. Explanation—In this Order, "MINOR" means --- section 3 of the Indian Majority Act, 1875 (9 of 1875)
2. Otherwise Rule 2. ---the defendant may apply to have the plaint taken off the file, with costs to be paid by the pleader or other person by whom it was presented.
3. Where the defendant is a minor the Court, on being satisfied of the fact of his minority, shall appoint a proper person to be guardian for the suit for such minor upon application in the name and on behalf of the MINOR or by the PLAINTIFF and such application shall be supported by an AFFIDAVIT verifying the fact that the proposed guardian has no interest in the matters in controversy in the suit adverse to that of the minor and that he is a fit person to be so appointed. However no order shall be made on any application under this rule 4 except upon NOTICE to any guardian of the minor APPOINTED OR DECLARED BY AN AUTHORITY competent in that behalf, or, where there is no such guardian, upon notice to the FATHER or where there is no father, to the MOTHER, or where there is no father or mother, to other NATURAL GUARDIAN of the minor, or, where there is no father, mother or other natural guardian to the PERSON IN WHOSE CARE THE MINOR IS, and after hearing any objection which may be urged on behalf of any person served with notice under this sub-rule. 4A. The Court may, in any case, if it thinks fit, issue notice under sub- rule (4) to the MINOR also. A person appointed under sub-rule (1) to be guardian for the suit for a minor shall, unless his appointment is terminated by retirement, removal or death, continue as such throughout all proceedings arising out of the suit including proceedings in any Appellate or Revisional Court and any proceedings in the execution of a decree.
4. Where a suit has been instituted on behalf of the minor by his next friend, the Court may, at any stage of the suit, either of its own motion or on the application of any defendant, and for the reasons to be recorded, order the next friend to give security for the payment of all costs incurred or likely to be incurred by the defendant. Where such a suit is instituted by an indigent person, the security shall include the court-fees payable to the Government.(2A. Security to be furnished by next friend when so ordered)
5. Any person who is of sound mind and has attained majority may act as next friend of a minor or as his guardian for the suit: Provided that the interest of such person is not adverse to that of the minor and that he is not, in the case of a next friend, a defendant, or, in the case of a guardian for the suit, a plaintiff.( RULE 4) . BUT No decree passed against a minor shall be set aside merely on the ground that the next friend or guardian for the suit of the minor had an interest in the subject-matter of the suit adverse to that of the minor, but the fact that by reasons of such adverse interest of the next friend of guardian for the suit, prejudice has been caused to the interests of the minor, shall be a ground for setting aside the decree.( RULE 3A). No person shall without his consent in writing be appointed guardian for the suit. (RULE 4)
6. Where there is no other person fit and willing to act as guardian for the suit, the Court may appoint any of its officers to be such guardian and may direct that the costs to be incurred by such officer in the performance of his duties as such guardian shall be borne either by the parties or by any one or more of the parties to the suit, or out of any fund in Court in which the minor is interested or out of the property of the minor], and may give directions for the repayment or allowance of such costs as justice and the circumstances of the case may require.
7. As a general rule, where a minor has a guardian appointed or declared by competent authority, no person other than such guardian shall act as the next friend of the minor or be appointed his guardian for the suit unless the Court considers, for reasons to be recorded, that it is for the minor's welfare that another person be permitted to act or be appointed, as the case may be. (Rule 4)
8. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, a next friend shall not retire without first procuring a fit person to be put in his place and giving security for the costs already incurred. The application for the appointment of a new next friend shall be supported by AN AFFIDAVIT showing the fitness of the person proposed and also that he has no interest adverse to that of the minor. (RULE 8)
9. The Court, may order that the next friend be removed and make such other order as to costs as it thinks fit. if it is satisfied of the existence of any of following grounds:
i. Where the interest of the next friend of a minor is adverse to that of the minor or
ii. where he is so connected with a defendant whose interest is adverse to that of the minor as to make it unlikely that the minor's interest will be properly protected by him, or
iii. where he does not do his duty, or
iv. during the pendency of the suit, ceases to reside within India or
v. for any other sufficient cause,
10. Application for removal of the next friend may be made on behalf of the minor or by a defendant.
11. Where the next friend is not a guardian appointed or declared by an authority competent in this behalf, and an application is made by a guardian so appointed or declared, who desires to be himself appointed in the place of the next friend, the Court shall remove that next friend unless it considers, for reasons to be recorded by it, that the guardian ought not to be appointed the next friend of the minor and shall thereupon appoint the applicant to be next friend in his place upon such terms as to the costs already incurred in the suit as it thinks fit. (RULE 9)
12. Where the guardian for the suit desire to retire or does not do his duty, or where there sufficient ground is made to appear, the Court may permit such guardian to retire or may remove him, and may make such order as to costs as it thinks fit. Where the guardian for the suit retires, dies or is removed by the Court during the pendency of the suit, the Court shall appoint a new guardian in his place. (RULE 11)
13. On the retirement, removal or death of the next friend of a minor, further proceedings shall be stayed until the appointment of a next friend in his place. Where the pleader of such minor omits, within a reasonable time, to take steps to get a new friend appointed, any person interested in the minor or in the matter in issue may apply to the Court for the appointment of one, and the Court may appoint such person as it thinks fit.( RULE 10)
14. Every application to the Court on behalf of a minor, other than an application under rule 10, sub-rule (2), shall be made by his next friend or by his guardian for the suit otherwise every order concerning or affecting the minor in a suit or on any application without such minor being represented by a next friend or guardian for the suit may be discharged, and, where the pleader of the party at whose instance such order was obtained knew, or might reasonably have known, the fact of such minority, such order may be discharged with costs to be paid by such pleader. (RULE 5)
15. A next friend or guardian for the suit shall not, without the leave of the Court, receive any money or other movable property on behalf of a minor either by way of compromise before decree or order, or under a decree or order in favour of the minor.(RULE 6)
16. While granting such leave, the court shall require such security from the next friend or guardian and shall give such directions as will sufficiently protect the property from waste and ensure its proper application in cases where the next friend or guardian for the suit has not been appointed or declared by competent authority to be guardian of the property of the minor, or, in cases where such next friend has been so declared but he is under any disability to receive the money or other movable property
17. Provided that the Court may, for reasons to be recorded, dispense with such security where such next friend or guardian—is the MANAGER OF A HINDU UNDIVIDED FAMILY and the decree or order relates to the property or business of the family; oris the PARENT of the minor.(RULE 6)
18. No next friend or guardian for the suit shall, without the leave of the Court, expressly recorded in the proceedings, enter into any agreement or compromise on behalf of a minor with reference to the suit in which he acts as next friend or guardian. An application for leave under sub-rule (1) shall be accompanied by an AFFIDAVIT of the next friend or the guardian for the suit, and also, if the minor is represented by a pleader, by the certificate of the pleader, to the effect that the agreement or compromise proposed is, in his opinion, for the benefit of the minor. But despite such affidavit and certificate, the court may examine whether the agreement or compromise proposed is for the benefit of the minor.(RULE 7).
19. Any such agreement or compromise entered into without the leave of the Court so recorded shall be voidable against all parties other than the minor.
20. (RULE 12).Course to be followed by minor plaintiff or applicant on attaining majority— (1) A minor plaintiff or a minor not a party to a suit on whose behalf an application is pending shall, on attaining majority, elect whether he will proceed with the suit or application. Where he elects to proceed with the suit or application, he shall apply for an order discharging the next friend and for leave to proceed in his own name. The title of the suit or application shall in such case be corrected so as to read henceforth thus: "A.B., late a minor, by C.D., his next friend, but now having attained majority. "Where he elects to abandon the suit or application, he shall, if a sole plaintiff or sole applicant, apply for an order to dismiss the suit or application on repayment of the costs incurred by the defendant or opposite party or which may have been paid by his next friend. Any application under this rule may be made EX PARTE but no order discharging a next friend and permitting a minor plaintiff to proceed in his own name shall be made without notice to the next friend.
21. (RULE 13).Where minor co-plaintiff attaining, majority desires to repudiate suit— (1) Where a minor co-plaintiff on attaining majority desires to repudiate the suit, he shall apply to have his name struck out as co-plaintiff; and the Court, if it finds that he is not a necessary party shall dismiss him from the suit on such terms as to costs or otherwise as it thinks fit.(2) Notice of the application shall be served on the next friend, on any co-plaintiff and on the defendant.(3) The costs of all parties of such application, and of all or any proceedings therefore had in the suit, shall be paid by such persons as the Court directs.(4) Where the applicant is a necessary party to the suit, the Court may direct him to be made a defendant.
22. (RULE 14).Unreasonable or improper suit— (1) A minor on attaining majority may, if a sole plaintiff, apply that a suit instituted in his name by his next friend be dismissed on the ground that it was unreasonable or improper.(2) Notice of the application shall be served on all the parties concerned; and the Court, upon being satisfied of such unreasonableness or impropriety, grant the application and order the next friend to pay the costs of all parties in respect of the application and of anything done in the suit, or make such other order as it thinks fit.
23. (RULE 15).Rules 1 to 14 (except rule 2A) to apply to persons of unsound mind— Rules 1 to 14 (except rule 2A) shall, so far as may be, apply to persons adjudged, before or during the pendency of the suit, to be of unsound mind and shall also apply to persons who, though not so adjudged, are found by the Court on enquiry to be incapable, by reason of any mental infirmity, or protecting their interest when suing or being sued.
24. (RULE 16). Savings— (1) Nothing contained in this Order shall apply to the Ruler of a foreign State suing or being sued in the name of his State, or being sued by the direction of the Central Government in the name of an agent or in any other name.(2) Nothing contained in this Order shall construed as affecting or in any way derogating from the provisions of any local law for the time being in force relating to suits by or against minors or by against lunatics or other persons of unsound mind.