15. Cognizance of suits by Courts of Small Causes.—(1) A Court of Small Causes shall not take
cognizance of the suits specified in the second schedule as suits excepted from the cognizance of a Court
of Small Causes.
(2) Subject to the exceptions specified in that schedule and to the provisions of any
enactment for the time being in force, all suits of a civil nature of whi ch the value does not
exceed five hundred rupees shall be cognizable by a Court of Small Causes.
(3) Subject as aforesaid, the State Government may, by order in writing, direct that all suits of a civil
nature of which the value does not exceed one thousand rupees shall be cognizable by a Court of Small
Causes mentioned in the order.5
1. See now ss. 113 and 115 and the First Schedule, Order XLVI, of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act 5 of 1908).
2. This section has been amended in its application to the Bombay Presidency by the Provincial Small Cause Courts (Bombay
Amendment) Act, 1930 (Bom. 6 of 1930), s. 2.
3. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for the original sub-section which read: “(1) The L. G. may appoint to a Court of Small Causes an
officer to be called the Registrar of the Court.”
4. Sub-section (5), which read: “A Registrar may be suspended or removed from office by the L.G.” was rep. by the
A. O. 1937.
5. For notifications issued under this section, see different local R. and O.
6
STATE AMENDMENT
Uttar Pradesh
Amendment of section 15 of Act No. IX of 1887.—In section 15 of the Provincial Small Cause Courts
Act, 1887.—
(a) In sub-section (2) for the words “five thousand rupees” the words “twenty five thousand rupees”
shall be substituted.
(b) in the proviso to sub-section (2) for the words “twenty five thousand rupees” the words “one lakh
rupees” shall be substituted.
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 14 of 2015, s. 4]
Uttar Pradesh
Amendment of section 15 of Act No. 9 of 1887.—In section 15 of the Provincial Small Cause Courts
Act, 1887,—
(a) in sub-section (2), for the words “one thousand rupees”, the words “two thousand rupees” shall be
substituted ;
(b) in sub-section (3) and in the proviso thereto for the words, “two thousand rupees” wherever they
occur, the words “three thousand rupees” shall be substituted.
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 57 of 1976, s 29.]
Uttar Pradesh
Amendment of section 15 of Act IX of 1887.— In section 15 of the Provincial Small Cause Courts Act,
1887 for sub-section (2) and (3), the following sub-sections shall be substituted namely :-
“(2) Subject to the exceptions specified in that schedule and to the provisions of any enactment for
the time being in force, all suits of a Civil nature of which the value does not exceed one thousand rupees
shall be cognizable by a court of Small Causes.
(3) Subject as aforesaid, the State Government may, by order in writing direct that all suits of a civil
nature of which the value does not exceed two thousand rupees shall be cognizable by a court of Small
Causes mentioned in the order. ”
[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 14 of 1970, s. 5.]
Uttar Pradesh
Amendment of section 15 of Act IX of 1887.—In section 15 of the Provincial Small Cause Courts Act,
1887, as amended in its application to Uttar Pradesh, hereinafter referred to as the principal Act, in subsection (3), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely :—
“Provided that in relation to suits by the lessor for the eviction of a lessee from a building after the
determination of his lease, or for recovery from him of rent in respect of the period of occupation thereof
during the continuance of the lease, or of compensation for the use and occupation thereof after such
determination of lease, the reference in this sub-section to two thousand rupees shall be constructed as as
a reference to five thousand rupees.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “building has the same meaning as
in Article (4) in the Second Schedule.”
[vide Uttar Pradesh Act 37 of 1972, s. 2]
16. Exclusive jurisdiction of Courts of Small Causes.—Save as expressly provided by this
Act or by any other enactment for the time being in force, a suit cognizable by a Court of Small
Causes shall not be tried by any other Court having jurisdiction within the local limits of the
jurisdiction of the Court of Small Causes by which the suit is triable.