Glossary
Legal Terms, Plainly Explained
An A–Z reference of terms you may encounter in court papers, notices and orders.
A
- Affidavit
- A written statement of facts made on oath, signed before a notary or authorised officer.
- Anticipatory Bail
- Pre-arrest bail granted by the Sessions Court or High Court in apprehension of arrest for a non-bailable offence.
- Arbitration
- Private dispute resolution before an arbitrator, governed by the Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996.
B
- Bail
- Release of an accused from custody, generally on furnishing surety, pending trial or further proceedings.
C
- Cause of Action
- The bundle of facts that gives rise to a right to sue.
- Caveat
- A notice given by a person to a court that no order should be passed against them without hearing them first.
- Charge Sheet
- The final report filed by police under Section 193 BNSS at the conclusion of investigation.
- CNR Number
- A unique 16-digit Case Number Record assigned to every case in the eCourts system.
- Cognizable Offence
- An offence in which the police can register an FIR and arrest without warrant.
- Compoundable Offence
- An offence which the parties may lawfully settle, with or without court permission, depending on the offence.
- Complaint
- A statement of facts made to a Magistrate seeking action against a person for an offence.
- Contempt of Court
- Disobedience to, or interference with, the judicial process — civil or criminal in nature.
- Cross-examination
- Questioning of a witness by the opposing party to test the truth of evidence given.
D
- Decree
- The formal expression of a court's adjudication conclusively determining the rights of the parties.
- Discharge
- An order releasing an accused at the pre-trial stage where the court finds insufficient ground to proceed.
E
- Ex parte
- An order passed in the absence of the other party.
F
- FIR
- First Information Report — the first written record of a cognizable offence at a police station.
H
- Habeas Corpus
- A writ requiring a person under detention to be produced before the court to test the legality of detention.
I
- Injunction
- A court order requiring a party to do or refrain from doing a specific act.
J
- Judgment
- The reasoned decision of a court on a matter, leading to a decree or order.
- Jurisdiction
- The authority of a court to hear and decide a matter — based on subject, value and territory.
L
- Limitation
- The time within which legal proceedings must be initiated, prescribed by the Limitation Act, 1963.
M
- Mandamus
- A writ directing a public authority to perform a duty it has failed to perform.
- Mediation
- A voluntary, confidential process where a neutral mediator helps parties reach a settlement.
- Memorandum of Appeal
- The pleading filed in an appellate court setting out grounds challenging a lower court's judgment.
- Mutation
- Recording of change of ownership in revenue/municipal records — not, by itself, proof of title.
N
- Non-bailable Offence
- An offence in which bail is not a matter of right and is granted at the court's discretion.
P
- PIL
- Public Interest Litigation — a writ proceeding raising a matter of public concern.
- Plaint
- The written statement of claim filed by a plaintiff to commence a civil suit.
- Power of Attorney
- A document by which a person authorises another to act on their behalf in specified matters.
Q
- Quash
- To set aside an FIR, complaint, charge sheet or order.
R
- Revision
- A challenge to a lower court order on grounds of jurisdiction or material irregularity, before a higher court.
S
- SLP
- Special Leave Petition under Article 136 of the Constitution to the Supreme Court against any order of any court/tribunal.
- Stay Order
- An order suspending the operation of an earlier order or proceeding.
- Summon
- A formal court direction requiring a person to appear before the court on a specified date.
V
- Vakalatnama
- The written authority by which a client engages an advocate to appear and act in a matter.
W
- Warrant
- A written order of a court directing arrest, search or production of a person or thing.
- Writ
- A formal order of a constitutional court issued under Article 226 or Article 32.