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Confused by a legal word on a notice or in court? Plain-language meanings of common Indian legal terms, in English and Hindi.
Anticipatory bail is pre-arrest protection: a court direction that if you are arrested for a non-bailable offence, you will be released on bail. You apply before arrest when you fear one.
The BNS is India's penal code effective from 1 July 2024, replacing the IPC. It defines offences and punishments, for example theft, cheating, and offences against the body.
The BNSS is India's criminal procedure code effective from 1 July 2024, replacing the CrPC. It governs FIRs, arrest, bail, investigation, and trial procedure.
The BSA is India's evidence law effective from 1 July 2024, replacing the Indian Evidence Act. It governs what evidence is admissible in court and how it is proved.
A caveat is a notice filed in court asking that no order be passed in a matter without first hearing the person who filed it. It prevents ex-parte orders behind your back.
A chargesheet is the final report police file in court after investigation, listing the accused, charges, and evidence. Filing it lets the court take cognisance and begin trial.
The CNR (Case Number Record) is a unique 16-character code assigned to every case in Indian courts. You use it to track your case status online on the eCourts portal.
A cognisable offence is a serious crime in which police can register an FIR and arrest without prior court permission (for example theft, assault, murder). Non-cognisable offences need court permission.
A compoundable offence is one the victim can legally settle with the accused, ending the case with the court's permission where required. Non-compoundable offences cannot be privately settled.
An FIR is the first written record the police make of a cognisable offence, setting the criminal case in motion. It can be filed by the victim, a witness, or anyone with knowledge of the offence.
Habeas corpus is a writ ordering that a detained person be produced before the court, so it can check whether the detention is lawful. It protects against illegal or arbitrary custody.
An injunction is a court order stopping a party from doing something (like selling disputed land) or requiring an act. A stay order pauses proceedings or the effect of an order.
Interim bail is short-term, temporary bail granted for a limited period while the court decides your regular or anticipatory bail application. It prevents custody in the meantime.
A Lok Adalat is a people's court that settles disputes by compromise. Its award is final, binding, and cannot be appealed, and no court fee is charged. Good for compoundable and civil matters.
Maintenance is financial support a person must pay to a spouse, child, or parent who cannot support themselves. It can be interim (during the case) or final.
Mandamus is a writ commanding a public authority to perform a legal duty it has refused or failed to do, for example deciding a pending application or releasing a withheld benefit.
Mutation is updating land or property records to show the new owner's name after a sale, inheritance, gift, or will. It is done in revenue records and is evidence of possession, not title.
Mutual consent divorce is when both spouses agree to end the marriage and settle terms like maintenance and custody. A cooling-off period applies but can be waived by the court.
In a non-bailable offence, bail is not a right; a court decides whether to grant it. It does not mean bail is impossible, only that it is at the court's discretion.
Partition is the legal division of jointly owned or ancestral property among co-owners so each gets a separate, defined share. It can be done by agreement or by a partition suit in court.
Quashing is the High Court cancelling an FIR or criminal proceedings, ending the case, typically when the complaint is false, an abuse of process, or discloses no offence.
Regular bail is release from custody after arrest, on conditions set by the court, while the case continues. It is sought once a person is already in police or judicial custody.
Remand is the court sending an arrested person into police or judicial custody while investigation continues. Police remand allows questioning; judicial remand keeps the accused in jail.
A sale deed is the registered legal document that transfers ownership of property from seller to buyer. It is the primary proof of title and must be registered to be valid.
Section 138 makes dishonour of a cheque for insufficient funds a criminal offence. You must send a demand notice within 30 days of the bank's return memo, then file within the limit.
This provision punishes a husband or his relatives for subjecting a woman to cruelty, including dowry harassment. It is a cognisable, non-bailable offence often used in matrimonial disputes.
A vakalatnama is the document by which a client authorises an advocate to appear and act on their behalf in a specific case. It must be signed by the client and accepted by the lawyer.
A writ petition asks a High Court or the Supreme Court to enforce a fundamental or legal right against the State, through orders like habeas corpus, mandamus, or certiorari.