Civil Litigation Lawyers in Delhi
Civil litigation covers everything that is not criminal, matrimonial or before a specialised tribunal — contract disputes, injunctions, declarations, defamation, and the execution of decrees that have already been won. The starting point is always limitation and jurisdiction.
What we handle
- Suits for declaration, injunction and damages
- Contract and commercial disputes
- Specific performance of agreements
- Defamation, civil and criminal
- Appeals, revisions and review petitions
- Execution of decrees and enforcement of awards
- Caveats and interim applications
- Writ petitions before the Delhi High Court
Key facts
- Governing law
- Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, read with the Limitation Act, 1963
- Limitation, contracts
- Three years from when the right to sue accrues, for most contractual and money claims
- Commercial disputes
- Commercial Courts Act, 2015 applies above the specified value, with pre-institution mediation ordinarily mandatory
- Where heard
- District courts by territorial and pecuniary jurisdiction; Delhi High Court on its original side above the threshold
How it works
- Check limitation firstA good claim filed late is a bad claim. This is the first thing an advocate should tell you, before fees are discussed.
- Pre-institution stepsCommercial disputes generally require mediation before filing. Skipping it gets the plaint returned.
- Plaint and interim reliefThe interim application filed with the plaint often decides the practical outcome long before judgment.
- ExecutionA decree is a piece of paper until it is executed. Attachment, garnishee and sale proceedings are where money actually moves.
Common questions
How long do I have to file a civil suit?
Most contractual and money claims carry a three-year limitation period running from when the right to sue accrued. Recovery of immovable property carries twelve years. Limitation is strictly applied and is rarely extended.
What is an injunction and how fast can I get one?
An injunction is a court order restraining someone from doing something — selling a property, terminating a contract, using a mark. Ex parte interim injunctions can be granted on the first date where urgency and irreparable harm are shown.
I won a case years ago and still have not been paid. What can be done?
File execution proceedings. The court can attach bank accounts and property, appoint a receiver, and in some circumstances order detention. Execution is a separate proceeding from the suit and has to be initiated actively.
Speak to an advocate about this.
Send your documents on WhatsApp and get an assessment of your position, usually the same day.