# Order VII Rule 11: end a bad suit early. > Four grounds, two of which need the court to fix time first. And rejection is not always the end. - Topic: Courts and procedure - For: Advocates - A 9-slide carousel: https://failegal.site/media/order-vii-rule-11-end-a-bad-suit-early-plaint - Published by FAI Legal on 2026-10-10 ## 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) ## (b) and (c): a chance first. Two grounds need the court to fix time before rejecting. - **(a) No cause of action** Read from the plaint itself. - **(b) Under-valued** Only after time to correct the valuation, and failure. - **(c) Insufficient stamp** Only after time to supply stamp paper, and failure. - **(d) Barred by any law** As 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.3** A 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)) ## 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).** ## 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 - Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · Section 2(2): "Decree" --- 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. FAI Media is part of FAI Legal (https://failegal.site), research on Pakistani statutes and judgments. Free to watch and read.