Abbreviations used in Courts

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

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