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The short answer
Legal terms used in Odisha courts have plain meanings: a plaint starts a civil suit, a decree is the final decision, ex parte means in the absence of one side, and cognizance is when a criminal court decides to proceed. A vakalatnama authorises an advocate to act for you. In Odia, a case is mokaddama, bail is jamina and an FIR is etala.
This page gives the meaning of legal terms you are likely to hear in an Odisha court, on a summons, in a cause list or on the eCourts portal, with Odia equivalents where they are in common use. Court words come from English, Latin, Persian and Odia, and the same document may use more than one. The entries below follow the order in which a case usually unfolds. For land-record words such as khata, kisam, sabik and hal, see the separate Odisha land record terms glossary.
Civil case terms: plaint, written statement, decree
Civil suits are governed by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. In Odisha they are filed before the Civil Judge (Junior Division) or Civil Judge (Senior Division) depending on value, with appeals to the District Judge and then the Orissa High Court. The process is described in the civil suit guide.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Plaint | The written statement of claim that starts a civil suit, filed by the plaintiff under Order VII of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC). It states the facts, the relief claimed and the valuation for court fee. |
| Plaintiff / Defendant | The person who files the suit, and the person against whom it is filed. |
| Written statement | The defendant's reply to the plaint (Order VIII CPC), generally due within 30 days of summons and not later than 90 days. |
| Issues | The points in dispute that the court frames after reading the plaint and written statement. Evidence is then led on each issue. |
| Ex parte | "In the absence of one side". An ex parte order or decree is passed when a party does not appear after notice. It can be set aside on an application under Order IX Rule 13, generally within 30 days. |
| Injunction | A court order forbidding (or, if mandatory, requiring) an act. A temporary injunction under Order XXXIX lasts while the case is pending; a permanent injunction is part of the final decree. |
| Status quo | An interim order that things stay as they are, for example no construction or transfer of the land, until the next order. |
| Caveat | A notice under Section 148A CPC asking the court to hear the caveator before passing an interim order. It remains in force for 90 days. See caveat petitions. |
| Decree | The formal expression of the court's final decision on the rights of the parties in a suit, drawn up after the judgment. |
| Execution | Proceedings to enforce a decree, for example by attachment and sale, arrest of the judgment-debtor or delivery of possession (Order XXI CPC). |
| Decree-holder / Judgment-debtor | The party in whose favour a decree is passed, and the party bound by it. |
| Commission | An order appointing a person (often an advocate or an Amin) to inspect property, measure land or record evidence and report to the court (Order XXVI). |
| Review | An application to the same court to reconsider its own judgment for an error apparent on the record or new evidence (Section 114, Order XLVII). |
| Revision | An application to a higher court to correct a jurisdictional error in a lower court's order (Section 115 CPC; Sections 438 to 442 BNSS in criminal cases). |
| Summary suit | A fast-track suit on a cheque, promissory note or written contract for a fixed sum, in which the defendant needs leave to defend (Order XXXVII). |
Criminal case terms: FIR, cognizance, charge sheet
Since 1 July 2024, criminal procedure is governed by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), offences by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), and evidence by the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. Older papers will still refer to the CrPC and IPC. The stages are explained in the criminal trial process.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| FIR | First Information Report: the police record of information about a cognizable offence (Section 173 BNSS, earlier 154 CrPC). A Zero FIR can be registered at any police station. See filing an FIR. |
| Cognizable / non-cognizable | A cognizable offence is one in which the police can register an FIR and arrest without a warrant; for a non-cognizable offence they need a Magistrate's order to investigate. |
| Cognizance | The step at which a court applies its mind to an offence and decides to proceed (Section 210 BNSS), on a police report, a complaint or other information. |
| Charge sheet | The police report filed after investigation (Section 193 BNSS, earlier 173 CrPC), saying whether the evidence supports a trial. A "final report" closes the case. |
| Charge | The formal accusation framed by the court at the start of trial, which the accused pleads to. |
| Bail / anticipatory bail | Release from custody on a bond, with or without sureties. Anticipatory bail (Section 482 BNSS) is a direction to release a person on bail if arrested. See bail in the Orissa High Court. |
| Remand | An order by a Magistrate authorising the police or judicial custody of an arrested person. |
| Summons / warrant | A summons orders a person to appear; a warrant orders the police to arrest and produce the person. Bailable warrants allow release on a bond. |
| Acquittal / conviction | A finding that the accused is not guilty, or guilty, at the end of a trial. |
| Quashing | The High Court's power to end a criminal proceeding that is an abuse of process, now under Section 528 BNSS (earlier 482 CrPC). In the Orissa High Court this is filed as a CRLMC. |
General court words: vakalatnama, adjournment, cause list
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Vakalatnama | The written authority a party signs to let an advocate appear and act for them in a case. It is filed in court with the first appearance. |
| Affidavit | A written statement of facts sworn or affirmed before an authorised officer or notary. A false affidavit can be punished. |
| Adjournment | Postponement of a hearing to a later date. Under the CPC, a party is generally not allowed more than three adjournments during the hearing of a suit. |
| Cause list | The daily list of cases to be taken up by each court or bench, published on the court's website and on eCourts. |
| Interim order / stay | A temporary order while the case is pending. A stay suspends the operation of an order or proceeding. |
| Interlocutory application (IA) | An application within a pending case, for example for an injunction, amendment or condonation of delay. |
| Condonation of delay | Permission to file late, on showing sufficient cause (Section 5 of the Limitation Act). See the limitation period chart. |
| Certified copy | A copy of an order, judgment or document certified by the court's copying section, needed for appeals and for use before other offices. |
| Writ | An order of the High Court under Article 226 (or the Supreme Court under Article 32), such as mandamus, certiorari or habeas corpus. See writ petitions. |
| Lok Adalat | A forum under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 that settles cases by compromise. Its award is final and treated as a decree. |
| Party in person | A litigant who argues their own case without an advocate. |
Orissa High Court case abbreviations
A case number at the Orissa High Court in Cuttack starts with a short code for the type of case, followed by the number and year, for example "BLAPL No. 1234 of 2026". The codes you will see most often are:
| Abbreviation | Case type |
|---|---|
| W.P.(C) | Writ petition (civil) |
| W.P.(Crl) | Writ petition (criminal), for example habeas corpus |
| BLAPL | Regular bail application |
| ABLAPL | Anticipatory bail application |
| CRLMC | Criminal miscellaneous case, including quashing petitions |
| CRLA | Criminal appeal |
| CRLREV | Criminal revision |
| RFA / RSA | Regular first appeal / regular second appeal in civil suits |
| FAO | First appeal from an order |
| MACA | Appeal against a motor accident claims award |
District courts use their own codes, such as C.S. for a civil suit, G.R. case for a police case in a Magistrate's court, and C.C. or I.C.C. for a complaint case. You can look up a case by number, party name or advocate on eCourts; see checking case status in Odisha.
Court terms in Odia
Odia court papers and notices often use these words. Spellings in Roman letters vary.
| Odia | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ମକଦ୍ଦମା (mokaddama) | Case, lawsuit |
| ଅଦାଲତ (adalata) | Court |
| ଓକିଲ (okila) | Advocate |
| ଜାମିନ (jamina) | Bail |
| ଏତଲା (etala) | FIR, first information to the police |
| ଅଭିଯୋଗ (abhijoga) | Complaint, allegation |
| ସାକ୍ଷୀ (sakhi) | Witness |
| ଶୁଣାଣି (shunani) | Hearing |
| ରାୟ (raya) | Judgment, verdict |
| ହଲଫନାମା (halafanama) | Affidavit |
| ଦରଖାସ୍ତ (darakhasta) | Application, petition |
| ଗିରଫ (girafa) | Arrest |
Latin phrases you may see
- Prima facie: on first look, before full evidence. Courts ask for a prima facie case before granting an injunction.
- Sub judice: under consideration by a court.
- Suo motu: on the court's own motion, without an application.
- Res judicata: a matter already decided between the same parties cannot be tried again (Section 11 CPC).
- Locus standi: the right of a person to bring the case.
- Inter alia: among other things.
Finding a legal term's meaning on your own papers
Read the whole document, note the court, case number and next date, and check the order sheet on eCourts. Ask the court's help desk or the District Legal Services Authority, which also provides free legal aid in Odisha to those who qualify. Information on work handled is under civil litigation and criminal matters, and the courts are described under courts. Bare Acts are on India Code.
Odia terms used in this guide
| Odia | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ମକଦ୍ଦମା | mokaddama | case, lawsuit |
| ଜାମିନ | jamina | bail |
| ଏତଲା | etala | FIR |
| ଶୁଣାଣି | shunani | hearing |
| ରାୟ | raya | judgment |
| ହଲଫନାମା | halafanama | affidavit |
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of vakalatnama?
A vakalatnama is the document a party signs authorising an advocate to appear, plead and act for them in a particular case. It is filed in court and stays in force until the case ends or it is withdrawn.
What does ex parte mean in a court case?
Ex parte means the court proceeded in the absence of one party, usually after that party did not appear despite notice. An ex parte decree can be set aside on showing sufficient cause, generally within 30 days.
What is the meaning of cognizance in a criminal case?
Cognizance is the point at which a Magistrate or court takes judicial notice of an offence and decides to proceed against the accused, under Section 210 BNSS (earlier Section 190 CrPC).
What is the difference between a plaint and a petition?
A plaint starts a civil suit under the CPC. A petition or application is used for other proceedings, such as a writ petition, a divorce petition or a bail application.
What is BLAPL and CRLMC in the Orissa High Court?
They are case-type codes. BLAPL is a regular bail application and ABLAPL an anticipatory bail application; CRLMC is a criminal miscellaneous case, which includes petitions to quash an FIR or proceeding.
What is the Odia word for bail and FIR?
Bail is commonly called jamina (<span lang="or">ଜାମିନ</span>) and an FIR is etala (ଏତଲା) in Odia.
Official sources
- Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 and BNSS, 2023 (India Code)
- Orissa High Court (official website)
- eCourts services: case status, cause lists and orders
- Odisha State Legal Services Authority
General information, not legal advice. Every matter turns on its own facts and documents, and the law and official procedures change. Check the current position with the concerned office, or take advice on your own facts, before acting.