HOW TO READ A CASE FILE

COMPLETE ADVOCATE SEQUENCE (CIVIL & CRIMINAL)

Think of file reading in 3 layers:
1️. Case story
2️. Legal strength
3️. Court strategy

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PART A: CIVIL CASE FILE – ADVOCATE SEQUENCE

STEP 1: Identify the Case Skeleton (2 minutes)

First page only.

Check:

• Court name & jurisdiction
• Case type (Suit / Appeal / Execution)
• Parties (who is plaintiff, who is defendant)
• Relief claimed (VERY IMPORTANT)

Ask yourself:

“Plaintiff exactly kya chahta hai?”

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STEP 2: Read the PLAINT (Most Important)

Never skip plaint.

Focus on:

• Cause of action (para-wise)
• Dates (timeline)
• Property details / transaction details
• Relief clause (final prayer)

Advocate trick:
Read only paras with dates & money/property first.

Ask:

• Cause of action continuous hai ya time-barred?
• Jurisdiction correct hai ya nahi?

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STEP 3: Check DOCUMENTS with PLAINT

Match facts with documents.

See:

• Agreement / Sale deed
• Receipts / invoices
• Notices
• Site plan / annexures

Ask:

• Document genuine lag raha hai?
• Original ya photocopy?
• Registration / stamp issue?

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STEP 4: Read WRITTEN STATEMENT (WS)

Now defence story.

Focus on:

• Admissions (goldmine)
• Denials (specific ya vague?)
• Preliminary objections
  • Limitation
  • Jurisdiction
  • Maintainability

Advocate trick:
Mark admitted facts with a pen.

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STEP 5: Issues Framed by Court

Issues = battlefield.

Check:

• Burden of proof kiske upar hai?
• Missing issue? (file application!)

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STEP 6: Evidence Stage Reading

Plaintiff Evidence:

• Affidavit in evidence
• Exhibits list
• Cross-examination answers

Ask:

• Document proved hua ya sirf marked?
• Contradictions?

Defence Evidence:

• Weak ya strong?
• Any admission helping plaintiff?

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STEP 7: Interim Orders

Read all:

• Stay orders
• Injunctions
• Status quo orders

Ask:

• Order violated hua?
• Contempt angle?

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STEP 8: Final Relief & Strategy

Ask final 3 questions:

1. Weakest document kaunsa?
2. Strongest admission kaunsa?
3. Case settlement worthy hai ya trial win?

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PART B: CRIMINAL CASE FILE – ADVOCATE SEQUENCE

STEP 1: FIR (Foundation Stone)

Read FIR slowly.

Focus on:

• Date, time, place
• Delay in FIR
• Specific role of accused
• Sections applied

Ask:

• FIR exaggerated hai?
• Civil dispute ko criminal banaya gaya?

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STEP 2: Complaint (if private case)

Compare with FIR.

Check:

• Improvements / contradictions
• Jurisdiction
• Cognizance order

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STEP 3: Section-wise Ingredients

Very important.

Ask:

• FIR ingredients poore karta hai?
• Section mechanically added hai?

Example:

• 506 IPC → real threat or empty words?
• 376 → consent angle?
• 406 → entrustment proof?

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STEP 4: Arrest / Bail Documents

Check:

• Arrest memo
• Grounds of arrest
• Bail order conditions

Look for:

• Illegal arrest
• Non-compliance of CrPC

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STEP 5: Charge Sheet (Police Report)

Read index first.

Check:

• List of witnesses
• Recovery memo
• Medical / FSL reports
• Call records / 65B certificate

Ask:

• Independent witness hai ya sirf interested?
• Recovery planted lag rahi?

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STEP 6: Charges Framed (or not)

Check:

• Proper application of mind?
• Grounds for discharge?

This decides:

• Discharge
• Quashing
• Trial strategy

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STEP 7: Prosecution Evidence

For each witness:

• Relationship with complainant
• Improvements
• Contradictions with FIR / 161

Advocate trick:
Prepare 1-page witness weakness chart.

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STEP 8: Cross-Examination Reading

Focus on:

• Admissions
• Silence
• Evasive answers

Golden rule:

“Jo witness bol nahi paaya, wahi defence hai”

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STEP 9: Statement of Accused (313 CrPC)

Check:

• Incriminating questions properly put?
• Any missing circumstance? (fatal to prosecution)

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STEP 10: Defence Evidence (if any)

• Alibi
• Documents
• Independent witnesses

Sometimes no defence evidence is best defence.

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CIVIL vs CRIMINAL – MINDSET DIFFERENCE

Aspect	Civil	Criminal
Focus	Documents	Witness credibility
Burden	Plaintiff	Prosecution
Strategy	Preponderance	Beyond reasonable doubt
Winning	Balance	One reasonable doubt

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SENIOR ADVOCATE GOLDEN RULES

✔️ Never read file in court for first time
✔️ Timeline bana ke padho
✔️ Mark admissions, not arguments
✔️ Judge ki previous orders samjho
✔️ Relief ke hisaab se file padho

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One-Line Advocate Formula

Civil = Documents + Admissions
Criminal = Contradictions + Doubt