Section 17 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

Section 17 CPC deals with suits for relief concerning, or compensation for wrong to, immovable property situated within the territorial jurisdiction of different Courts.

Legal text reviewed: September 6, 2026. The central provision below should be read with applicable State amendments, local laws, pecuniary limits and binding judicial decisions.

Section 17 CPC

Suits for immovable property situate within jurisdiction of different Courts

Where a suit is to obtain relief respecting, or compensation for wrong to, immovable property situate within the jurisdiction of different Courts, the suit may be instituted in any Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction any portion of the property is situate:

Provided that, in respect of the value of the subject-matter of the suit, the entire claim is cognizable by such Court.

In brief: If one immovable property, or the property involved in one suit, extends across the territorial jurisdiction of more than one Court, the suit may be filed in any Court within whose local limits any part of the property is situated, but only if that Court is competent to entertain the entire claim having regard to its pecuniary jurisdiction.

How Section 17 operates

Section 17 addresses territorial jurisdiction where the immovable property concerned in the suit falls within the jurisdiction of different Courts. It avoids the need to split the claim merely because different portions of the property lie within different territorial jurisdictions.

The proviso is important: the chosen Court must be competent to entertain the whole claim with reference to the value of the subject-matter. Section 17 therefore operates together with the rules on pecuniary jurisdiction and the other provisions governing the place of suing.

Official reference: Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - India Code. For litigation or professional use, also verify applicable State amendments, current pecuniary limits and relevant High Court rules.