Supreme Court Legal Format

Supreme Court Caveat Application Format

Updated specimen for lodging a caveat before the Supreme Court of India when a party expects that a Special Leave Petition, appeal or connected application may be filed against an order or judgment in which the caveator has an interest.

Current legal position: Caveats before the Supreme Court are governed by the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 and the applicable filing practice. The Supreme Court has also clarified that, in an appeal or Special Leave Petition, a caveator has a right to be heard on a prayer for interim relief, but not an independent right to be heard on the question of grant of leave or admission merely because a caveat has been lodged.

Supreme Court Caveat - Important Filing Rules

A caveat is intended to ensure that a person who expects an adverse application is not taken by surprise when interim relief is sought. The filing should accurately identify the judgment, order, case number, court or tribunal from which the proposed Supreme Court proceeding is expected to arise, and the parties concerned.

The Supreme Court's filing system specifically provides a separate workflow for e-filing a caveat. The Registry may raise defects, which must be cured before final submission. Filing and appearances before the Supreme Court are subject to the Supreme Court Rules and the Advocate-on-Record system.

Supreme Court Caveat Application Specimen

CAVEAT APPLICATION - SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL / CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CAVEAT NO. ________ OF 20__

IN THE MATTER OF A PROPOSED

SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION / CIVIL APPEAL / CRIMINAL APPEAL

Against the judgment/order dated __.__.20__ passed by the __________________ Court / High Court / Tribunal in __________________ Case No. ________ of 20__

IN THE MATTER OF:

________________________________
S/o / D/o / W/o ________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
...Proposed Petitioner / Appellant

VERSUS

________________________________
S/o / D/o / W/o ________________________________
Address: _______________________________________
...Caveator / Proposed Respondent

TO,
THE REGISTRAR,
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA,
NEW DELHI

SUBJECT: Caveat in respect of the proposed challenge to the judgment/order dated __.__.20__ passed by ________________________________ in __________________ Case No. ________ of 20__.

MOST RESPECTFULLY SHOWETH:

  1. That the Caveator was a party / interested person in __________________ Case No. ________ of 20__ before the __________________ Court / High Court / Tribunal.
  2. That by judgment/order dated __.__.20__, the said Court / High Court / Tribunal passed an order whereby ________________________________________________.
  3. That the Caveator has reason to believe that ________________________________, the proposed Petitioner / Appellant, is likely to file a Special Leave Petition / appeal / application before this Hon'ble Court challenging the aforesaid judgment/order.
  4. That the Caveator is directly affected by the proposed proceeding and apprehends that the proposed Petitioner / Appellant may seek stay, suspension, injunction, bail, interim protection or other interim relief against the aforesaid judgment/order.
  5. That the Caveator therefore lodges the present caveat and respectfully requests that, in accordance with the Supreme Court Rules and applicable law, no interim relief affecting the Caveator be considered without notice to the Caveator and an opportunity of hearing.
  6. That the particulars of the impugned judgment/order and the originating proceedings stated above are true and correct to the knowledge of the Caveator.
  7. That the Caveator shall comply with all Registry requirements, including filing of the requisite documents, court fee, vakalatnama and such proof of service or other material as may be prescribed.

PRAYER

It is therefore respectfully prayed that this Hon'ble Court / Registry may be pleased to:

  1. register the present caveat in respect of the proposed proceeding arising from the judgment/order described above;
  2. record the Caveator's request for notice and opportunity of hearing before consideration of any prayer for interim relief affecting the Caveator, in accordance with law;
  3. direct that the Caveator / Advocate-on-Record be served with the proposed petition, appeal or application as required under the applicable Rules; and
  4. pass such further order or direction as may be appropriate.

Place: New Delhi
Date: __.__.20__

CAVEATOR

THROUGH ADVOCATE-ON-RECORD
________________________________
Advocate-on-Record
AOR Code: ______________________
Address: ________________________
Email / Mobile: _________________

Verification

I, ________________________________, the Caveator above named, do hereby verify that the contents of paragraphs 1 to ___ of the present caveat are true and correct to my knowledge and belief and that no material fact has been concealed.

Verified at __________________ on this ___ day of __________, 20__.

CAVEATOR

Documents and Filing Points

The precise filing set depends on the nature of the proposed Supreme Court proceeding and current Registry requirements. It may include the caveat application, copy of the judgment or order sought to be challenged, memo or particulars of parties, vakalatnama, court fee, proof of service where required, and other documents or declarations prescribed by the Registry.

Advocate-on-Record

Supreme Court filings are governed by the Advocate-on-Record framework under the Supreme Court Rules. Where a caveat is filed through counsel, the filing should be made through the authorised Advocate-on-Record in accordance with current Registry practice.

E-filing

The Supreme Court's official e-filing system provides a dedicated caveat filing workflow. The user enters details of the caveator, uploads the required documents and index, pays applicable court fees, submits the filing, and cures any defects raised by the Registry before final acceptance.

Official Supreme Court References