Plaint

It must contain

1. 01The name of the court, and the name, description and place of residence of each party — Order VII Rule 1(a)–(c).
2. 02The facts constituting the cause of action, and when it arose — Rule 1(e). Not the evidence; the facts.
3. 03The facts showing that this court has jurisdiction — Rule 1(f). Territorial and pecuniary, pleaded, not assumed.
4. 04The relief claimed, stated specifically — Rules 1(g) and 7. Relief not asked for will not be granted.
5. 05The value of the subject matter for jurisdiction and for court fee — Rule 1(i).
6. 06Verification under Order VI Rule 15; in a commercial dispute, a Statement of Truth under Order VI Rule 15A.

Where it fails

• No cause of action disclosed — the plaint is liable to be rejected under Order VII Rule 11(a), and rejection is not a dismissal you can quietly refile around.
• Relief undervalued, or court fee short, and not corrected within the time the court allows — Rule 11(b)–(c).
• Barred by limitation on the face of the plaint — Rule 11(d). A pleading that dates its own cause of action carelessly does this to itself.
• Left unverified: the party is not permitted to rely on the pleading as evidence of the matters in it.