It is not mandatory for a Plaintiff or defendant to appear for a case in person. They can appoint agents and pleaders to represent them. Agents and pleaders can act within the limit as per the authority given to them.
Can appearance be made through agent or pleader?
As per Order III Rule 1 appearance etc may be in person, by recognised agent or by pleader. Any appearance, application or act in or to any Court, required or authorised by law to be made or done by a party in such Court, may, except where otherwise expressly provided by any law for the time being in force, be made or done by the party in person, or by his recognised agent, or by a pleader (appearing, applying or acting, as the case may be, ) on his behalf:
Provided that any such appearance shall, if the Court so directs, be mad by the party in person.
Who are Recognised Agents
As per Order III Rule 2 defines Recognised agents. The recognished agent of parties by whom such appearance, applications and acts may be made or done are:
(a) persons holding power of attorney, authorising them to make and do such appearances, applications and acts on behalf of such parties;
(b) persons carrying on trade or business for and in the name of parties not resident within the local limits of the jurisdiction of the Court within which the appearance, application or act is made or done, in matters connected with such trader or business only, where no other agents is expressly authorised to make and do such appearances, applications and acts.
How to complete service of process on recognised agents?
As per order III 3(1) of Code of Civil Procedure service of process on recognised agent of a party shall be as effectual as if the same had been served on the party in person, unless the Court otherwise directs.
(2) The provisions for the service of process of a party to suit shall apply to the service of process on his recognised agent.
What is the process of appointing a Pleader
Order III Rule 4 of Code of Civil Procedure has provision regarding appointment of Pleader. 4(1) No Pleader shall act for any person in any court, unless he has been appointed for the purpose by such person by a document in writing signed by such person or by his recognised agent or by some other person duly authorised by or under a power of attorney to make such appointment.
As per rule (2) every such appointment shall be filled in court, and shall for the purposes of sub-rule (1) be deemed to be in force until determined with the leave of the court by a writing signed by the client or the pleader, as the case may be and filed in Court, or until the client or the pleader dies, or until all proceedings in the suit are ended so far as regards the client.
Explanation - for the purposes of this sub-rule, the following shall be deemed to be proceedings in the suit-
an application for the review of decree or order in the suit.
an application under section 144 or under section 152 of this code, in relation to any decree or order made in the suit.
an appeal from any decree or order in the suit, and
any application or act for the purpose of obtaining copies of documents or return of documents produced or filed in the suit or of obtaining refund of moneys paid into the Court in connection with the suit.
(3) Nothing in sub-rule (2) shall be construed-
extending, as between the pleader and his client, the duration for which the pleader is engaged, or
as authorizing service on the pleader or any notice or document issued by any court other than the court for which the pleader was engaged, except where such service was expressly agreed to by the client in the document referred to in sub-rule(1).
(4) The High Court may, by general order, direct that, where the person by whom a pleader is appointed is unable to write his name, his mark upon the document appointing the pleader shall be attested by such person and in such matter as may be specified by the order.
(5) No pleader who has been engaged for the purpose of pleading only shall plead on behalf of any party, unless he has filed in Court a memorandum of appearance signed by himself and stating -
the names of the parties to the suit.
the name of the party for whom he appears, and
the name of the person by whom he is authorised to appear
Provided that nothing in this sub-rule shall apply to any pleader engaged to plead or on behalf of any party by any other pleader who has been duly appointed to act in court on behalf of such party.
How to do services of process on pleader
As per Order III Rule 5 any process served on the pleader who has been duly appointed to act in Court for any party or left at the office or ordinary residence of such pleader, and whether the same is for the personal appearance of the party or not, shall be presumed to be duly communicated and made known to the party whom the pleader represents, and, unless the court otherwise directs, shall be as effectual for all purposes as if the same had been give to or served on the party in person.
Can an Agent accept Service?
Order III Rule 6 of Code of Civil Procedure deals with acceptance of service by agent. 6(1) Besides the recognized agents described in rule 2 any person residing within the jurisdiction of the Court may be appointed an agent to accept service of process.
6(2) Appointment to be in writing and to be filed in court. Such appointment may be special or general and shall be made by instrument in writing signed by the principal, and such instrument or, if the appointment is general, a certified copy thereof shall be filed in Court.
6(3) The court may, at any stage of the suit, order any party to the suit not having a recognised agent residing within the jurisdiction of the Court, or a pleader who has been duly appointed to act in the Court on his behalf, to appoint, within a specified time, an agent residing within the jurisdiction of the Court to accept service of the process on his behalf.
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