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Courts and procedure · For advocates

Order VII Rule 11: end a bad suit early.

In short

Four grounds, two of which need the court to fix time first. And rejection is not always the end.

By the FAI Legal editorial desk · 10 October 2026 · 9 slides · 2 min read

  1. For advocates. Order VII Rule 11: end a bad suit early.
  2. Four grounds. Only four. · The plaint shall be rejected in these cases. · Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · Order VII Rule 11
  3. (b) and (c): a chance first. · Two grounds need the court to fix time before rejecting. · (a) No cause of action · (b) Under-valued · (c) Insufficient stamp · (d) Barred by any law
  4. Quick quiz. Which clause? · Guess first, then swipe for the answer. · A. No cause of action · B. Insufficient stamp · C. Barred by any law
  5. Answer: C. Barred by law. · Limitation is a bar by law. · O.VII R.11(d) · Limitation Act, s.3
  6. Myth or fact? · Know what rejection does, and does not, do. · Myth: Once the plaint is rejected, the claim is gone for good. · Fact: Rejection does not of its own force bar a fresh plaint on the same cause of action (O.VII R.13).
  7. Reasons, then appeal. · The Judge must record the order with reasons (O.VII R.12). Rejection is a decree, so an appeal lies (s.96). · Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · Section 2(2)
  8. The rule. The case law. · Ask FAI. It gives the exact rule and the judgments on when courts reject. · Can a plaint be rejected under O.VII R.11 on the basis of the written statement? · Judgments where the plaint was rejected as time-barred under clause (d).
  9. Follow FAI Legal on Instagram, @fai_legal. Which O.VII R.11 ground do you see most in practice?

Four grounds. Only four.

The plaint shall be rejected in these cases.

“(a) where it does not disclose a cause of action; (b) where the relief claimed is under valued, and the plaintiff, on being required by the Court to correct the valuation within a time to be fixed by the Court, fails to do so; (c) where the relief claimed is properly valued, but the plaint is written upon paper insufficiently stamped, and the plaintiff, on being required … fails to do so; (d) where the suit appears from the statement in the plaint to be barred by any law.”

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · Order VII Rule 11, Rejection of plaint

(b) and (c): a chance first.

Two grounds need the court to fix time before rejecting.

  • (a) No cause of actionRead from the plaint itself.
  • (b) Under-valuedOnly after time to correct the valuation, and failure.
  • (c) Insufficient stampOnly after time to supply stamp paper, and failure.
  • (d) Barred by any lawAs it appears from the statement in the plaint.

Quick quiz. Which clause?

Guess first, then swipe for the answer.

  • A. No cause of action
  • B. Insufficient stamp
  • C. Barred by any law

Answer: C. Barred by law.

Limitation is a bar by law.

  • O.VII R.11(d)Suit barred by any law, as appears from the plaint.
  • Limitation Act, s.3A suit after the period shall be dismissed even if limitation is not set up as a defence.

Myth or fact?

Know what rejection does, and does not, do.

  • Myth: Once the plaint is rejected, the claim is gone for good.
  • Fact: Rejection does not of its own force bar a fresh plaint on the same cause of action (O.VII R.13).

Reasons, then appeal.

The Judge must record the order with reasons (O.VII R.12). Rejection is a decree, so an appeal lies (s.96).

“It shall be deemed to include the rejection of a plaint”

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · Section 2(2), "Decree"

The rule. The case law.

Ask FAI. It gives the exact rule and the judgments on when courts reject.

  • Can a plaint be rejected under O.VII R.11 on the basis of the written statement?
  • Judgments where the plaint was rejected as time-barred under clause (d).

Example questions

What this does not mean

  • Under-valuation and insufficient stamp are not grounds for instant rejection. The court must first fix time to correct it, and the plaintiff must fail to do so.
  • Grounds (a) and (d) are judged from the plaint itself.
  • Rejection does not of its own force bar a fresh plaint on the same cause of action (O.VII R.13).

Questions people ask

What is Order VII Rule 11 CPC?

It lists four grounds on which a plaint shall be rejected: no cause of action, under-valued relief not corrected in time, insufficient stamp not supplied in time, and a suit that appears from the plaint to be barred by any law.

Can a plaint be rejected because the suit is time-barred?

Yes. Limitation is a bar by law under O.VII R.11(d), and section 3 of the Limitation Act says a suit filed after the period shall be dismissed even if limitation is not set up as a defence.

Can I file a fresh suit after my plaint is rejected?

Rejection does not of its own force bar a fresh plaint on the same cause of action (O.VII R.13).

Can I appeal against rejection of plaint in Pakistan?

Yes. Rejection of a plaint is deemed a decree under section 2(2) CPC, so an appeal lies under s.96. The Judge must record the order with reasons (O.VII R.12).

Can a court reject a plaint straight away for insufficient stamp paper?

No. Under clause (c), the court must first require the plaintiff to supply the stamp paper within a fixed time, and reject only if he fails.

Sources

  • Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · Order VII Rule 11
    Rejection of plaint Pakistan Code
  • Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · Section 2(2)
    "Decree" Pakistan Code

Educational legal information, not legal advice. Every case turns on its own facts. Speak to a qualified lawyer about your situation. Review status: Pending advocate review. How we check.

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