📘 25 Tricky Hypotheticals – Order 7 Rule 11(d)
1️⃣ Limitation – Declaration After 15 Years
Problem: Plaintiff challenges a 2008 sale deed in 2024. No plea of fraud delay explained.
Answer: Reject plaint. Time-bar apparent from plaint.
Case: Dahiben v. Arvindbhai Kalyanji Bhanusali
2️⃣ Clever Drafting to Avoid Limitation
Problem: Plaintiff avoids mentioning date of knowledge.
Answer: Court can read plaint meaningfully; if dates inferable, reject.
Case: T. Arivandandam v. T.V. Satyapal
3️⃣ Commercial Suit Without Sec 12A Mediation
Problem: No urgent relief pleaded; mediation not done.
Answer: Mandatory rejection under Rule 11(d).
Case: Patil Automation Private Limited v. Rakheja Engineers Private Limited
4️⃣ SARFAESI Action Challenged in Civil Court
Problem: Bank takes possession u/s 13(4). Borrower files civil suit.
Answer: Bar under Sec 34 SARFAESI. Reject.
Case: Mardia Chemicals Ltd. v. Union of India
5️⃣ IBC Moratorium in Force
Problem: Suit filed for recovery during CIRP.
Answer: Civil jurisdiction barred (Sec 63 IBC).
Case: Embassy Property Developments Pvt. Ltd. v. State of Karnataka
6️⃣ Arbitration Clause Exists
Problem: Agreement contains arbitration clause; defendant invokes Sec 8.
Answer: Court must refer; civil suit not maintainable.
Case: Vidya Drolia v. Durga Trading Corporation
7️⃣ Benami Claim Filed
Problem: Plaintiff claims property purchased in another’s name.
Answer: Suit barred under Sec 4 Benami Act.
Case: R. Rajagopal Reddy v. Padmini Chandrasekharan
8️⃣ Wakf Property Dispute in Civil Court
Problem: Tenant disputes Wakf status before Civil Judge.
Answer: Wakf Tribunal exclusive jurisdiction.
Case: Ramesh Gobindram v. Sugra Humayun Mirza Wakf
9️⃣ Matrimonial Property Suit in Civil Court
Problem: Husband files civil suit instead of Family Court.
Answer: Jurisdiction barred under Family Courts Act.
Case: K.A. Abdul Jaleel v. T.A. Shahida
🔟 Industrial Dispute Filed in Civil Court
Answer: Bar under Industrial Disputes Act.
Case: Premier Automobiles Ltd. v. Kamlekar Shantaram Wadke
11️⃣ Suit Against Company During NCLT Proceedings
Answer: Sec 430 Companies Act bars jurisdiction.
Case: Shashi Prakash Khemka v. NEPC Micon
12️⃣ DRT Matter Filed in Civil Court
Answer: Sec 18 RDDBFI Act bars suit.
Case: Punjab National Bank v. O.C. Krishnan
13️⃣ Injunction Prohibited Under Specific Relief Act
Answer: If barred under Sec 41, reject.
14️⃣ Rent Dispute Filed in Civil Court
Answer: Rent Act exclusive jurisdiction applies.
Test Case: Dhulabhai v. State of Madhya Pradesh
15️⃣ Partial Limitation – Mixed Question
Problem: Some relief time-barred, others not.
Answer: If bar not apparent for entire plaint → cannot reject partially (whole plaint principle).
Case: Church of Christ Charitable Trust v. Ponniamman Educational Trust
16️⃣ Fraud Alleged to Save Limitation
Answer: If vague fraud pleaded without particulars → reject.
Case: Dahiben (2020)
17️⃣ Suit Filed Without Statutory Notice (Mandatory)
Answer: If statute mandates prior notice (and none pleaded) → reject under 11(d).
18️⃣ Challenge to Revenue Entry in Civil Court
Answer: If statute gives exclusive revenue remedy → bar applies.
19️⃣ Plaintiff Seeks Relief Against Government Without Sec 80 CPC Notice
Answer: Not 11(d); return/reject under 11(a) or procedural defect — depends on facts.
20️⃣ Limitation Requires Evidence
Answer: If limitation not clear from plaint → cannot reject.
Case: Dahiben principle.
21️⃣ Suit Filed Despite Arbitration Award
Answer: If award binding and not set aside → barred by Arbitration Act scheme.
22️⃣ Commercial Suit Filed Pre-Patil Automation (Retrospective?)
Answer: SC held Sec 12A mandatory but applied prospectively from 20.08.2022.
Case: Patil Automation.
23️⃣ Declaratory Suit Against Completed SARFAESI Auction
Answer: Civil Court barred; DRT remedy exclusive.
Mardia Chemicals.
24️⃣ Suit Filed Despite Statutory Appeal Remedy
Answer: If statute expressly bars civil court → reject (Dhulabhai test).
25️⃣ Plaintiff Suppresses Bar in Pleading
Answer: Court can examine entire plaint meaningfully; clever omission won’t help.
Case: T. Arivandandam (1977)
🧠 Golden Rule for Rule 11(d)
✔ Bar must appear from plaint itself
✔ Court assumes plaint facts true
✔ Defence irrelevant
✔ Mandatory statutory prohibition → immediate rejection
Derived from:
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Dahiben v. Arvindbhai Kalyanji Bhanusali
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Patil Automation Private Limited v. Rakheja Engineers Private Limited