1. Introduction
Abbreviations used in Court proceedings are generally complex terminologies with significant implications for legal professionals, litigants (parties involved in cases) as well as the general public. Let’s take a look at why they are important.
2. Importance of understanding Abbreviations used in Courts
Abbreviations help in saving precious time of the court as they streamline communication by condensing lengthy legal terms and phrases into shorter forms, thereby lending clarity and precision to documents and proceedings.
Abbreviations also bring consistency to legal documents and proceedings which helps in minimizing misinterpretations thereby maintaining accuracy of court records.
Competence in legal abbreviations is considered a fundamental skill for legal professionals. It demonstrates professionalism and proficiency in legal practice.
3. Common Types of Abbreviations used in Courts
Abbreviations can be Acronyms, Initials or Shortened Forms of legal phrases and terminologies.
Abbreviations can be categorised depending on the context of use. For instance, Case Types is one category, which is based on jurisdiction. Type of Court is another category (Supreme Court, High Court, District Courts, Tribunals, etc.). Various legislations form another category. Similarly, a category of abbreviations are used in daily work practice inside Court rooms, primarily by judges, magistrates, other judicial officers and court staff.
We will try and categorise these abbreviations to gain a simplified understanding of the subject.
4. Abbreviations of Case Types -based on Jurisdiction
There are primarily 3 jurisdictions: Original Jurisdiction, Appellate Jurisdiction and Writ Jurisdiction.
When a case is filed in court the Main Petition is assigned a Case Number based on the relevance of its content.
4.1 Original Jurisdiction
4.1.1 Main Case Types
Civil Suit – C.S.
Company Petition – C.P.
Election Petition – ELEC. PETN.
Insolvency Petition – I.P.
Original Applications – O.A.
Original Matrimonial Suit – O.M.S.
Original Petition – O.P.
Testamentary Original Suit – T.O.S.
4.1.2 Miscellaneous Case Types
Application – APPLICATION
Caveat – CAVEAT
Execution Petition – E.P.
Original Application – O.A.
Sub-Application – SUB-APPLICATION
4.2 Appellate Jurisdiction
4.2.1 Main Case Types
Civil Miscellaneous Appeal – C.M.A.
Civil Miscellaneous Second Appeal – C.M.S.A.
Civil Revision Petition – C.R.P.
Civil Revision Petition (PD) – C.R.P. (PD)
Contempt Appeal – CONT.A.
Cross Objection – CROSS. OBJ.
First Appeal – A.S.
Letters Patent Appeal – L.P.A.
Original Side Appeal – O.S.A.
Review Application – REV. APPL.
Second Appeal – S.A.
Special Tribunal Appeal – S.T.A.
Special Tribunal Petition – S.T.P.
Trade Marks Appeal – T.M.A.
Trade Marks Second Appeal – T.M.S.A.
Tax Cases – T.C.
Tax Case Appeal – T.C.A.
Tax Case Revision – T.C.R.
Writ Appeal – W.A.
4.2.2 Miscellaneous Case Types
Criminal Appeal – CRL.A.
Criminal Original Petition – CRL.O.P.
Criminal Revision Case – CRL. R.C.
Habeas Corpus Petition – H.C.P.
Miscellaneous Petition – M.P.
Reference Case – R.C.
Referred Trial – R.T.
4.3 Writ Jurisdiction
Review Application – REV. APPL.
Writ Petition – W.P.
5. Abbreviations of Types of Courts
5.1 Courts in India
SC – Supreme Court
HC – High Court
DC – District Courts
5.2 Tribunals in India
AFT – Armed Forces Tribunal
AFTP – Appellate Tribunal under Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators Act
APTEL – Appellate Tribunal for Electricity
CAT – Central Administrative Tribunal
CESTAT – Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal
CGIT – Central Government Industrial Tribunal
DRT – Debt Recovery Tribunal
ITAT – Income Tax Appellate Tribunal
NCLT – National Company Law Tribunal
NCLAT – National Companies Law Appellate Tribunal
NGT – National Green Tribunal
RCT – Railway Claims Tribunal
SAT – Securities Appellate Tribunal
TDSAT – The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal
6. Abbreviations of Central Acts
Some of the most widely used abbreviations of Central Acts (laws) as used in Indian Courts:
CPC – Code of Civil Procedure
CrPC – Code of Criminal Procedure
CGST – Central Goods and Services Tax Act
DVC – Domestic Violence Act
HMA – Hindu Marriage Act
IPC – Indian Penal Code
NIA – Negotiable Instruments Act
PMLA – Prevention of Money Laundering Act
RTI – Right to Information Act
7. Abbreviations of Judicial Designations
CJI – Chief Justice of India
CJ – Chief Justice
DJ – District Judge
CJM – Chief Judicial Magistrate
CMM – Chief Metropolitan Magistrate
JM – Judicial Magistrate
8. Other Abbreviations used in Courts
DPP – Director of Public Prosecutions
AG – Attorney General
ADP – Assistant Director of Prosecution
APP – Assistant Public Prosecutor
MC – Magisterial Clerk
DUI – Driving Under the Influence
ADR – Alternative Dispute Resolution
AOR – Advocate on Record
CIC – Central Information Commission
DGCA – Directorate General of Civil Aviation
ECHR – European Court of Human Rights
EEOC – Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
FCRA – Foreign Contribution Regulation Act
FIR – First Information Report
GPA – General Power of Attorney
HRA – Human Rights Act
ICJ – International Court of Justice
JDR – Judicial Dispute Resolution
LAC – Legal Aid Clinic
LLB – Bachelor of Laws
LLM – Master of Laws
MOA – Memorandum of Association
MOU – Memorandum of Understanding
M&A – Mergers and Acquisitions
NDA – Non-Disclosure Agreement
PIL – Public Interest Litigation
POA – Power of Attorney
POCSO – Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act
QBD – Queen’s Bench Division
RTI – Right to Information
SC/ST – Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
SCC – Supreme Court Cases
SLP – Special Leave Petition
SOPO – Sexual Offences Prevention Order
UNHCR – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Writ – A formal written order or directive from a higher court