Home > Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 > Sections 31, 32 and 33

Sections 31, 32 and 33 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

Sections 31, 32 and 33 CPC deal respectively with summonses to witnesses, measures available to compel attendance after default, and pronouncement of judgment followed by a decree.

Legal text reviewed: September 6, 2026. The central provisions below should be read with the applicable Orders and Rules in the First Schedule, State and High Court amendments, and binding judicial decisions.
Section 31 CPC

Summons to witness

The provisions in sections 27, 28 and 29 shall apply to summonses to give evidence or to produce documents or other material objects.

In brief: Section 31 applies the CPC provisions governing issue and service of summonses to summonses issued to witnesses for giving evidence or producing documents or other material objects.
Section 32 CPC

Penalty for default

The Court may compel the attendance of any person to whom a summons has been issued under section 30 and for that purpose may -

  1. issue a warrant for his arrest;
  2. attach and sell his property;
  3. impose a fine upon him not exceeding five thousand rupees; or
  4. order him to furnish security for his appearance and in default commit him to the civil prison.
In brief: Section 32 gives the Court coercive powers to secure attendance where a person summoned under Section 30 defaults, including arrest, attachment and sale of property, fine, and security for appearance.
Section 33 CPC

Judgment and decree

The Court, after the case has been heard, shall pronounce judgment, and on such judgment a decree shall follow.

In brief: Section 33 states the basic sequence at the conclusion of a civil case: the Court pronounces judgment and a decree follows on that judgment.

Important amendment note

In Section 32(c), the words "not exceeding five hundred rupees" were substituted by "not exceeding five thousand rupees" by Act 46 of 1999, section 4, with effect from July 1, 2002.

Official reference: India Code - Official Legislative Portal. Search for "The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908" and refer to Sections 31, 32 and 33. For procedure concerning witnesses and judgments, also verify the applicable provisions of the First Schedule.