Chamber Summons and affidavit in support thereof

Go past the big courtrooms of the Bombay High Court on a weekday and you will notice that some applications are not argued in open court at all. The lawyers go into the judge's chamber, hand over a short paper, and come out with directions in a few minutes. That paper is usually a chamber summons. A party who wants the other side's accounts inspected, who needs leave to put written questions to the opposite party, or who wants a procedural direction does not need a full-dress hearing. So when is a chamber summons the right vehicle, and what goes into it and its affidavit?

In two minutes

A chamber summons is a short application in a pending suit, heard by a judge in chambers rather than in open court, for procedural or ancillary orders; it cites the provision relied on, states the order sought, and is supported by an affidavit setting out the facts.

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