18. Extent of original jurisdiction of District or Subordinate Judge.—Saveas otherwise
provided by any enactment for the time being in force, the jurisdiction of a District Judge or
Subordinate Judge extends, subject to the provisions of section 15 of the Code of Civil
Procedure2
(14 of 1882), to all original suits for the time being cognizable by Civil Courts.
STATE AMENDMENT
Assam
Amendment of section 18 and 39.—In Section 18 of the Said Act, after the words "Code of Civil
Procedure", the figures "1908" shall be inserted.
[Vide Assam Act 6 of 1935, s. 4]
1. In Bengal and Assam, for the words and figures “in s. 623 or s. 649 of the Code of Civ il Procedure” the words
and figures “in ss. 36, 37 and 114 of, and rule 1 of Order XLVII in Sch. I to, the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908,”
have been subs. by Bengal Act 19 of 1935 and Assam Act 6 of 1935, respectively. In Agra, Bihar and Orissa,
also, the reference to the old enactment should be construed in the same way: see the Code of Civil Procedure,
1908 (Act 5 of 1908), s. 158.
2. In Bengal and Assam, the figures “1908,” have been ins. at this place by Bengal Act 19 of 1935 and Assam Act 6
of 1935, respectively. In Agra, Bihar and Orissa.also, the reference to the old enactment should be construed in
the same way: see the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act 5 of 1908), s. 158.
8
Bihar
Amendment of Section 18 of Act XII of 1887. - In Section 18 of the said Act, after the words "Code of
Civil Procedure", the figures "1908" shall be inserted.
[Vide Bihar Act 12 of 1960, s. 3]
1
19.Extent of jurisdiction of Munsif.—(1) Save as aforesaid, and subject to the provisions
of sub-section (2),the jurisdiction of a Munsif extends to all like suits of which the value does
not exceed one thousand rupees.
(2)The State Government may, on the recommendation of the High Court, direct, by
notification in the Official Gazette, with respect to any Munsif named therein, that his
jurisdiction shall extend to all like suits of such value not exceeding two thousand rup eesas
ma y b e specified in the not ification:
2
[Provided that the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, delegate
to the High Court its powers under this section.]
STATE AMENDMENT
Assam
Amendment of section 19.—In sub-section (2) of section 19 of the said Act, for the words
beginning with “that his jurisdiction” and ending with “in the notification” the following shall
be substituted, namely:-
“(a) that his jurisdiction shall extend to all like suits of such value not exceeding two
thousand rupees as may be specified in the notification, or
(b) that so long as he holds Court at a place where the Court of a Subordinate Judge is
held his jurisdiction shall extend to all like suits of such value not exceeding three
thousand rupees as may be so specified.”
[Vide Assam Act 6 of 1935, s. 5]
Amendment of section 19.—In the Principal Act, in Section 19-
(i) in sub-section (1), for the words “seven thousand rupees” , the words “fifty thousand rupees”
shall be substituted.
(ii) in sub-section (2), for the words “twenty five thousand rupees” the words “two lakhs rupees”
shall be substituted.
[Vide Assam Act 44 of 2005, s. 2]
Amendment of section 19.—In section 19 of the principal Act, --
(1) in sub-section (1), for the words “one thousand rupees” at the end the words “three thousand
rupees” shall be substituted:
(2) for sub-section (2) the following shall be substituted, namely:-
“(2) The State Government may, on the recommendation of the High Court, direct, by
notification in the Official Gazette with respect to any Munsif named therein that his jurisdiction shall
extend to all like suits of such value not exceeding five thousand rupees as may be specified in the
notification:
1. S. 19 does not apply to Honorary Munsifs and Benches, in the U. P.: see the U. P. Honorary Munsifs Act, 1896
(U.P. 2 of 1896), s. 13. This section has been diversely amended in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, Agra and Assam
by Ben. Act 19 of 1935, s. 5, B. &O. Act 4 of 1922, s. 2, U.P. Act 5 of 1925, ss. 2 and 3, and Assam Act 6 of
1935, s. 5, respectively.
2. Ins. by Act 4 of 1914, s. 2 and the Schedule, Part I.
9
Provided that the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, delegate to the
High Court its powers under this section.”
[Vide Assam 9 of 1965, s. 2]
Amendment of section 19.—(1) In section 19 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), for the words
“three thousand rupees” the words “seven thousand rupees” shall be substituted.
(2) In section 19 of the principal act, in sub-section (2) for the words “ten thousand rupees” the words
“twentyfive thousand rupees” shall be substituted.
[Vide Assam Act 7 of 1993, s. 2]
Uttarakhand
Amendment of sub-section (2) of section 19.—In sub-section (2) of section 19 of the Bengal, Agra
and assam Civil Courts Act, 1887—
“(2) Words ‘one lac’ for the words ‘twenty five thousand’ shall be substituted.
[Vide Uttaranchal Act 20 of 2005, s. 2]
Uttar Pradesh
Amendment of section 19 of act 12 of 1887.—for section 19 of the Bengal, Agra and Assam Civil
Courts Act, 1887, hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as the principal Act, the following section shall
be substituted, namely:--
“19 (1) Save as aforesaid, and subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), the jurisdiction of a
Munsif extends to all like suits of which the value does not exceed five thousand rupees.
(2) The State Government may, on the recommendation of the High Court, direct by notification
in the official Gazette, with respect to any Munsif named therein, that his jurisdiction shall extend to
all like suits of such value not exceeding ten thousand rupees as may be specified in the notification:
Provided that the State Government may, the notification in the official Gazette, delegate to the
High Court its powers under this section.”
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 57 of 1976, s. 27]
Amendment of section 19.—In section 19 of the principal Act,-
(a) in sub-section (1), for the words "five thousand rupees" the words "ten thousand rupees" shall be
substituted;
(b) for sub-section (2), the following sub-section shall be substituted namely:-
"(2) the High Court may direct by notification in the official Gazette, with respect to any music
named therein, that his Jurisdiction shall extend to all like suits of such value not exceeding twenty
five thousand rupees as may be specified in the notification.
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 17 of 1991, s. 3]
Amendment of section 19 of Act no. XII of 1887.— In section 19 of the Bengal, Agra and Assam Civil
Court Act, 1887 hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as the principal Act,–
(a) in sub-section (1) for the words “ten thousand rupees” the words “one lakh rupees” shall be
substituted;
(b) in sub-section (2) for the words “twenty five thousand rupees” the words “five lakh rupees”
shall be substituted.
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 14 of 2015, s. 2 ]
10
Bihar
Amendment of Section 19 of Act 12 of 1887. - In Section 19 of the Bengal, Agra and Assam Civil
Courts Act, 1887 (Act 12 of 1887) (hereinafter referred to as the said Act).
(i) in sub-section (1) for the words "two thousand" the words "twenty thousand" shall be substituted;
(ii) in sub-section (2) for the words "five thousand" the words "thirty thousand" shall be substituted.
[Vide Bihar Act 19 of 1987, s. 2]
Amendment of section 19 of the Act, 12 of 1887.— In the said Act in Section-19 the words
"the Jurisdiction of Munsif extends to all like suits of which the value does not exceed Thirty thousand
rupees" shall be substituted by the words, numbers and bracket "the Jurisdiction of Civil Judge (Junior
Division) extends to all like suits of which the value does not exceed rupees 1,50,000/-(One lac fifty
thousand rupees)".
[Vide Bihar Act 14 of 2014, s. 4]
Amendment of Section 19 of Act XII of 1887. - In Section 19 of the said Act,-
(i) in sub-section (1), for the words "one thousand", the words "two thousand" shall be substituted;
and
(ii) in sub-section (2), for the words "four thousand", the words "five thousand" shall be substituted.
[Vide Bihar Act 12 of 1960, s. 5]
20. Appeals from District and Additional Judges.—(1) Save as otherwise provided by any
enactment for the time being in force, an appeal from a decree or order- of a District Judge or Additional
Judge shall lie to the High Court.
(2) An appeal shall not lie to the High Court from a decree or order of an Additional Judge in any
case in which, if the decree or order had been made by the District Judge,
an appeal would not lie to that
Court.
21. Appeals from Subordinate Judges and Munsifs.—(1) Save as aforesaid, an appeal from a
decree or order of a Subordinate Judge shall lie—
(a) to the District Judge where the value of the original suit in which or in any proceeding
arising out of which the decree or order was made did not exceed five thousand rupees, and
(b) to the High Court in any other case.
(2) Save as aforesaid, an appeal from a decree or order of a Munsif shall lie to the District Judge.
(3) Where the function of receiving any appeals which lie to the District Judge under sub-section (1)
or sub-section (2) has been assigned to an Additional Judge, the appeals may bepreferred to the
Additional Judge.
(4) The High Court may, with the previous sanction of the State Government, direct, by notification
in the Official Gazette, that appeals lying to the District Judge under sub-section (2) from all or any of the
decrees or orders of any Munsif shall be preferred to the Court of such Subordinate Judge as may be
mentioned in the notification, and the appeals shall thereupon be preferred accordingly.
STATE AMENDMENT
Assam
Amendment of section 21.—In the Principal Act, in section 21, in sub-section (1), in
clause (a), for the words “fifty thousand rupees” the words “five lakh rupees” sh all be
substituted.
(a) to the District Judge where the value of the original suit in which or in any
proceeding arising out of which, the decree or order was made, whether instituted or
11
commenced or decided before or after the commencement of the Uttar Pradesh Civil Laws
Amendment Act, 1968, was less than twenty thousand rupees; and
(b) to the High Court, in any other case.
(I-A) An appeal from a decree or order of Civil Judge where the value of the original
suit in which, or in any proceeding arising out of which, the decree or order was made
exceeded ten thousand rupees but was less than twenty-thousand rupees instituted in the
High Court before the date of commencement of the Uttar Pradesh Civil Laws Amendment
Act, 1970, and pending in the High Court immediately before the said date, not being an
appeal in which arguments have been concluded before the said date and only judgment
disposing of the appeal remains to be pronounced, shall stand transferred to the District
Judge having jurisdiction who may either decide it himself or assign it to any Additional
Judge sub-ordinate to him.
(I-B) The period of limitation prescribed for filing an appeal from a decree or order of a
Civil Judge where the value of the original suit in which, or in any proceeding arising out of
which, the decree or order was made exceeded ten thousand rupees but was less than twenty
thousand rupees and the decree or order was made before December 2, 1968, shall,
notwithstanding anything in the Limitation Act, 1963, be deemed to be and always to have
been the same as if the appeal continued to lie to the High Court.’’
(b) to the High Court, in any other case.
(I-A) An appeal from a decree or order of Civil Judge where the value of the original
suit in which, or in any proceeding arising out of which, the decree or order was made
exceeded ten thousand rupees but was less than twenty-thousand rupees instituted in the
High Court before the date of commencement of the Uttar Pradesh Civil Laws Amendment
Act, 1970, and pending in the High Court immediately before the said date, not being an
appeal in which arguments have been concluded before the said date and only judgment
disposing of the appeal remains to be pronounced, shall stand transferred to the District
Judge having jurisdiction who may either decide it himself or assign it to any Additional
Judge sub-ordinate to him.
(I-B) The period of limitation prescribed for filing an appeal from a decree or order of
a Civil Judge where the value of the original suit in which, or in any proceeding arising out
of which, the decree or order was made exceeded ten thousand rupees but was less than
twenty thousand rupees and the decree or order was made before December 2, 1968, shall,
notwithstanding anything in the Limitation Act, 1963, be deemed to be and always to have
been the same as if the appeal continued to lie to the High Court.’’
[Vide Assam Act 44 of 2005, s. 3]
Amendment of section 21.—In section 21 of the principal Act, in clause (a) of
sub-section (1), for the words “five thousand rupees” the words “seven thousand rupees” shall
be substituted.
[Vide Assam Act 9 of 1965, s. 3]
Amendment of section 21.--In section 21 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), in clause
(a), for the words “twenty thousand rupees”, the words “fifty thousand rupees” shall be
substituted.
[Vide Assam Act 7 of 1993, s. 3]
Uttar Pradesh
Amendment of section 21 of Act XII of 1887.--In section 21 of the Bengal, Agra and Assam Civil
Courts Act, 1887, as amended in its application to Uttar Pradesh (hereinafter referred to as the Bengal,
Agra and Assam Civil Courts Act), for sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be substituted,
namely :—
12
“(1) Save as aforesaid, an appeal from a decree or order of a Civil Judge shall lie—
(a) to the District Judge where the value of the original suit in which or in any proceeding arising
out of which, the decree or order was made, whether instituted or commenced or decided before or
after the commencement of the Uttar Pradesh Civil Laws Amendment Act, 1968, was less than
twenty thousand rupees; and
(b) to the High Court, in any other case.
(I-A) An appeal from a decree or order of a Civil Judge where the value of the original suit in which,
or in any proceeding arising out of which, the decree or order was made exceeded ten thousand rupees but
was less than twenty thousand rupees instituted in the High Court before the date of commencement of
the Uttar Pradesh Civil Laws Amendment Act, 1970 and pending in the High Court immediately before
the said date, not being an appeal in which arguments have been concluded before the said date and only
judgement disposing of the appeal remains to be pronounced, shall stand transferred to the District Judge
having jurisdiction who may either decide it himself or assign it to any Additional Judge subordinate to
him.
(I-B) The period of limitation prescribed for filing an appeal from a decree or order of a Civil Judge
where the value of the original suit in which, or in any proceeding arising out of which, the decree or
order was made exceeded ten thousand rupees but was less than twenty thousand rupees and the decree or
order was made before December 2, 1968, shall notwithstanding anything in the Limitation Act, 1963, be
deemed to be and always to have been the same as if the appeal continued to lie to the High Court.”
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 14 of 1970, s. 4]
Uttar Pradesh
Amendment of section 21.—In section 21 of the principal Act,-
(a) for sub-sections (1), (1-A) and (1-B), the following sub-sections shall be
substituted, namely :–
"(1) Save as aforesaid an appeal from a decree or order of a Civil Judge shall lie,–
(a) to the High Court in any case other than a case referred to in clause (b) ;
(b) to the District Judge where the value of the original suit in which or in any
proceeding arising out of which the decree or order was made (either instituted or
commenced before or after the relevant date) did not exceed one lakh rupees or such
higher amount not exceeding five lakh rupees as the High Court may fix from time to
time by notification in the official Gazette.
Explanation—For the purposes of this sub-section and sub-section (1-A) and
(1-B) relevant date means the date of commencement of the Uttar Pradesh Civil
Laws (Amendment) Act, 1991 or, as the case may be, the date of commencement
of notification made under clause (b) of sub-section (1).
(1-A) An appeal, from a decree or order of a Civil Judge where the value of
the original suit in which, or in any proceeding arising out of which the decree or
order was made was not more than amount fixed by or under clause (b) of subsection (1) instituted in High Court and pending in the High Court immediately
before the relevant date, shall stand transferred to the District judge having
jurisdiction who may either decide it himself or assign it to any additional Judge
subordinate to him :
Provided that any judgment, decree or order passed in such an appeal by the
High Court after the relevant date shall be valid as if the High Court had
withdrawn the appeal under section 24 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
(1-B) The period of limitation prescribed for filing an appeal from a decree or
order of a Civil Judge made before the relevant date, which lay to the High
13
Court immediately before such date but lies to the District Judge under subsection (1) shall not withstanding anything to the contrary contained in the
Limitation Act, 1963, be deemed to be and always to have been the same as if the
appeal continued to lieto the High Court.";
(b) in sub-section (4), the words "with the previous sanction of the State
Government,' shall be omitted.
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 17 of 1991, s. 4]
Amendment of section 21.—In section 21 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), in clause (b),–
(a) for the words “one lakh rupees” the words “five lakh rupees” shall be substituted; and
(b) for the words “five lakh rupees” the words “twenty-five lakh rupees” shall be substituted.
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 14 of 2015, s. 3]
Bihar
Amendment of Section 21 of Act XII of 1887.—In clause (a) of sub-section (1) of Section 21 of the
Bengal, Agra & Assam Civil Courts Act, 1887 (XII of 1887), for the words "did not exceed five thousand
rupees", the word "was less than ten thousand rupees" shall be substituted.
[Vide Bihar Act 1959, s. 2]
Amendment of section 21 of Act 12 of 1887.—In the Bengal, Agra and Assam Civil Courts
Act, 1887 (Act 12 of 1887) clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 21 for the words “sixty
thousand” the words “two lakhs” shall be substituted.
[Vide Bihar Act 19 of 1996, s. 2]
Amendment in section 21 of the Act, 12 of 1887.—In the said act in Clause (a) of sub-section
(1) of section-21 the words “Two lacs rupees” shall be substituted by the number, bracket and
words “rupees 10,000/-(rupees Ten lacs)”
[Vide Bihar Act 14 of 2014, s. 5]
Amendment in section 21 of Act 12 of 1887.—In section (a) of sub-section (1) of Section 21
of the said Act of the words “ten thousand” the words “sixty thousand” shall be substituted.
[Vide Bihar Act 19 of 1987, s. 3]