Order IV Rule 2 CPC - Register of Civil Suits
Order IV Rule 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC) requires courts to maintain a register of civil suits and to number suit entries each year in the order in which plaints are admitted.
Text of Order IV Rule 2 CPC
2. Register of suits.—The Court shall cause the particulars of every suit to be entered in a book to be kept for the purpose and called the register of civil suits. Such entries shall be numbered in every year according to the order in which the plaints are admitted.
Meaning and purpose of the register of civil suits
The register of civil suits is the court's formal record of suits whose plaints have been admitted. Order IV Rule 2 places a duty on the court to enter the particulars of each suit in that register. Its purpose is to provide an orderly and traceable record of civil litigation instituted before the court.
The rule establishes two express requirements:
- Recording of particulars: The court must cause the particulars of every suit to be entered in the register of civil suits.
- Annual sequential numbering: Entries must be numbered each year according to the order in which the plaints are admitted.
The rule itself does not prescribe an exhaustive list of register columns or a particular software format. Additional administrative requirements may arise under the applicable High Court rules, civil court rules and authorised electronic case-management procedures.
Relationship between Order IV Rules 1 and 2
Order IV Rule 1 CPC governs how a civil suit is instituted. Under the central text, a suit is instituted by presenting a plaint in duplicate to the court or an officer appointed for that purpose. The plaint must comply, so far as applicable, with Order VI (pleadings generally) and Order VII (plaint). Rule 1(3) states that a plaint is not deemed duly instituted unless the requirements of Rule 1(1) and (2) are satisfied.
Order IV Rule 2 addresses the next record-keeping requirement: entry of the particulars of the suit and annual numbering in the order of admission of plaints. Presentation, scrutiny, admission and registration should not be treated as interchangeable steps in every procedural context.
How annual suit numbering works
The statutory rule links numbering to the order in which plaints are admitted and requires entries to be numbered in every year. For example, where a court admits successive plaints during a year, the corresponding entries receive sequential numbers under the applicable court procedure. The exact case-number format and classification may depend on local court rules and electronic filing practices.
Importantly, Order IV Rule 2 does not by itself determine jurisdiction, limitation, maintainability or the merits of a claim. Those questions are governed by other applicable legal provisions and judicial decisions.
Practical importance for litigants and advocates
- The registered suit number helps identify the proceeding in court records, filings and correspondence.
- Registration supports court administration, record retrieval and case tracking.
- Parties should verify the registered case details through the court registry or authorised case-status system.
- Any question concerning filing defects, the date of institution or delayed registration must be assessed under the applicable procedural rules and facts; a register entry alone does not resolve every such issue.
Related provisions and official resources
Read Order IV Rule 1 - Suit to be commenced by plaint for the requirements governing institution of a suit. For the governing statute, refer to the official CPC text on India Code. The Bombay High Court CPC legislation archive is another institutional reference, although current amendments and locally applicable rules should always be checked separately.
Frequently asked questions
What does Order IV Rule 2 CPC provide?
It directs the court to enter the particulars of every suit in the register of civil suits and to number entries annually according to the order in which plaints are admitted.
Who maintains the register of civil suits?
The legal obligation rests on the court, which causes the required particulars to be entered through its authorised registry or administrative process.
Does registration mean that a civil suit will succeed?
No. Registration is a procedural record-keeping step; it is not a decision on the merits of the suit.
Are electronic suit registers permitted?
Courts may operate electronic record systems under applicable court rules and administrative directions. Order IV Rule 2 sets out the duty to maintain and number the register, without prescribing a specific digital platform.
Legal information only. The central CPC provision is reproduced for reference; state amendments, High Court rules and case-specific procedural directions may affect practice in a particular court. Last reviewed: 12 October 2026.