Civil Litigation – Practice Areas and List of Acts (LITIGATION BASICS 17)

The Civil Litigation Practitioner requires thorough knowledge of Procedural and Substantive Laws. Junior Lawyers at the initial stage of practice find it difficult to identify practice areas in civil litigation. In this document, I have prepared a Practice areas-wise list of Acts in Civil Litigation.

LAWS RELATING TO PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

1. The Advocate Act, 1961

2. Bar Council of India (BCI) Rules

CONSTITUTIONAL LAWS

1. The Constitution of India

PROCEDURAL LAWS

1. The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908

2. The Evidence Act, 1872

3. The Limitation Act, 1963

4. The Specific Relief Act, 1963

5. Civil Manual Issued by Bombay High Court

SUITS VALUATION AND COURT FEES

1. The Suit Valuation Act, 1887

2. The Court Fees Act, 1870

3. The Maharashtra Court Fees Act, 1959

4. The Interest Act, 1978

COURTS – ADMINISTRATION & JURISDICTION

1. The Maharashtra Civil Court Act, 1869

2. The Bombay City Civil Court Act, 1948

3. The Presidency Small Cause Courts Act, 1882

4. The Provincial Small Cause Courts Act, 1887

5. The Maharashtra Revenue Jurisdiction Act, 1876

6. The Maharashtra Vexatious Litigation (Prevention) Act, 1971

7. The Oath Act, 1969

8. The Family Courts Act, 1984

9. The Commercial Courts Act, 2015

10. The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987

11. Maharashtra State Rules

REGISTRATION AND STAMP LAWS

1. The Registration Act, 1908

2. The Maharashtra Registration Rules, 1961

3. The Maharashtra Stamp Act, 1958

4. The Maharashtra Stamp Rules, 1939

CONTRACT LAWS

1. The Contract Act, 1872

2. The Sale of Goods Act, 1930

3. The Indian Partnership Act, 1932

4. The Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881

TORT LAWS

1. The Motor Vehicle Act, 1988

2. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019

3. Tort Law

COMMERCIAL LAWS

1. The Company Act, 2013

2. The Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008

3. The MSME Act, 2006

4. The Maharashtra Shops and Establishment Act, 2017

5. SARFAESI Act, 2002

6. The Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993

7. Tax Laws –

a. Direct Taxes – The Income Tax Act, 1961

b. Indirect Taxes – GST, Custom Act

8. IPR Laws –

a. The Patent Act, 1970

b. The Copyright Act, 1957

c. The Trademarks Act, 1999

d. The GI of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999

e. The Design Act, 2000

9. The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996

FAMILY LAWS

1. Secular Laws

a. The Special Marriage Act, 1954

b. The Foreign Marriage Act, 1969

c. The Succession Act, 1925

d. The Guardians and Wards Act, 1890

2. Hindu Laws

a. The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955

b. The Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956
c. The Hindu Succession Act, 1956

d. The Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956

3. Christian Laws

a. The Christian Act, 1872

b. The Divorce Act, 1869

4. Parsi Laws

a. The Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936

5. Muslim Laws

a. The Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939
b. The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937
c. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986
d. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019

e. Mulla Commentary on Mahomedan Law

PROPERTY AND EASEMENT LAWS

1. The Transfer of Property Act, 1882

2. The Indian Easement Act, 1882

REAL ESTATE LAWS

1. The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016

2. The Maharashtra Apartment Ownership Act, 1970

3. The Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act, 1963 (Repealed)

LAND AND REVENUE LAWS

1. The Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966

2. The Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999

3. The Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966

4. The Mamlatdars Courts Act, 1906

5. The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013

PANCHAYATS AND MUNICIPAL LAWS

1. The Maharashtra Village Panchayat Act, 1959

2. The Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961

3. The Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and Industrial Townships Act, 1965

4. The Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, 1949

5. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888

6. The Cantonment Act, 2006

SOCIETIES AND TRUSTS LAWS

1. The Societies Registration Act, 1860

2. The Societies Registration (Maharashtra) Rules, 1971

3. The Indian Trust Act, 1882

4. The Maharashtra Public Trust Act, 1950 and Rules

CO-OPERATIVE LAWS

1. The Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act 1960 and Rules

OTHER LAWS

1. Service laws

2. Labour laws

3. Environmental Laws

4. Election Laws

Note - In the above list, some Local Acts apply to the State of Maharashtra only. You can search local laws applicable to your state.