Cause of Action
The bundle of facts that gives a person the right to sue.
In Simple Terms
It's the reason a lawsuit exists — the specific things that happened which entitle you to ask a court for relief.
Detailed Legal Meaning
A cause of action is the set of facts which, if proved, entitles the plaintiff to a judgment against the defendant. It must be complete and must have actually arisen (not merely be anticipated) before a suit is instituted; a plaint that discloses no cause of action is liable to be rejected.
Relevant Acts & Sections
- Code of Civil Procedure, 1908Search on India Code ↗
Order VII Rule 1 • Order VII Rule 11
Common Court Usage
Pleaded in the opening paragraphs of a plaint, and often the subject of a preliminary objection at the defendant's instance.
Sample Usage
“The cause of action arose on 14th March 2024, when the respondent failed to deliver possession as agreed.”