CRP stands for Civil Revision Petition — a petition filed before a High Court invoking its revisional jurisdiction under Section 115 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC) to correct errors of jurisdiction, material irregularities, or illegal exercises of power by subordinate civil courts.
Unlike a civil appeal (which re-examines the merits of a decision), a Civil Revision Petition targets specific categories of legal error — particularly where a court has acted without jurisdiction, failed to exercise jurisdiction, or has acted with material irregularity in exercising its jurisdiction.
CRP Quick Details
| Category | Details |
| Full Form | Civil Revision Petition |
| Legal Basis | Section 115, Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 |
| Filed In | High Court |
| Against | Orders of subordinate civil courts (not decrees) |
| Scope | Jurisdictional errors, material irregularities, excess of jurisdiction |
| Not Available | Against decrees (appeal is the remedy) |
| Purpose | Correct jurisdictional errors without full appeal |
| Time Limit | 90 days from date of order (Limitation Act + court rules) |
| Revision vs Appeal | Appeal re-examines merits; revision corrects jurisdiction errors |
| Alternative | Article 227 HC jurisdiction (supervisory jurisdiction) |
Section 115 CPC — The Foundation of CRP
Section 115 of the CPC empowers the High Court to call for the record of any case decided by any court subordinate to it in which no appeal lies and in which such court appears to have:
- Exercised jurisdiction not vested in it by law
- Failed to exercise a jurisdiction so vested
- Acted in the exercise of its jurisdiction illegally or with material irregularity
The key limitation — CRP under Section 115 CPC lies only against orders, not against decrees. Against decrees, the appropriate remedy is a civil appeal (under Section 96 or 100 CPC). This distinction is critical in practice.
What “Jurisdiction” Means in CRP Context
The word “jurisdiction” in Section 115 has been broadly interpreted by courts:
Lack of Jurisdiction The court had no power at all to hear or decide the matter — for example, a Civil Judge deciding a matter beyond their pecuniary limit, or a family court deciding a matter not within its subject matter jurisdiction.
Failure to Exercise Jurisdiction The court had jurisdiction but wrongly refused to exercise it — for example, refusing to try a case that it was legally bound to hear, or wrongly returning a plaint for lacking jurisdiction when it actually had it.
Material Irregularity in Exercise The court had jurisdiction but exercised it so irregularly that the proceedings were fundamentally vitiated — for example, deciding without giving notice to a party, or failing to frame issues.
CRP vs. Appeal vs. Article 227 Petition
Understanding CRP requires distinguishing it from related remedies:
| Feature | CRP (S.115 CPC) | Civil Appeal (S.96 CPC) | Art. 227 Petition |
| Target | Orders (not decrees) | Decrees | Any judicial/quasi-judicial action |
| Scope | Jurisdiction errors only | Facts + Law | Supervisory jurisdiction |
| Basis | Statutory (CPC) | Statutory (CPC) | Constitutional |
| Filed Against | Subordinate court orders | Trial court decree | Any court/tribunal |
| Re-examination | No merit review | Full merit review | Limited supervisory |
Common Situations Where CRP Is Filed
- Trial court wrongly rejected a plaint for lack of jurisdiction when it actually had jurisdiction
- Civil court passed an interlocutory order without giving proper notice
- Court exercised jurisdiction on a matter exclusively within another court’s domain
- Court refused to decide an application it was legally bound to decide
- Material irregularity in procedure vitiated the proceedings
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the full form of CRP in law?
A: CRP stands for Civil Revision Petition — a petition filed before the High Court under Section 115 CPC to correct jurisdictional errors or material irregularities in subordinate civil court orders.
Q: Under which section of the CPC is CRP filed?
A: Civil Revision Petitions are filed under Section 115 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
Q: Can a CRP be filed against a decree?
A: No. Section 115 CPC specifically applies to orders, not decrees. Against a decree, the appropriate remedy is a civil appeal (First Appeal under Section 96 or Second Appeal under Section 100).
Q: What is the difference between CRP and a civil appeal?
A: A civil appeal re-examines the merits of the decision — both facts and law. A CRP only corrects specific categories of jurisdictional error — the High Court does not re-examine the facts or merits in revision.
Q: Can the High Court modify a finding of fact in a CRP?
A: No. The High Court cannot interfere with factual findings in a CRP. It can only correct jurisdictional errors — if the lower court had jurisdiction but exercised it irregularly.
Q: What is the time limit for filing a CRP?
A: The limitation period is 90 days from the date of the order being challenged, subject to condonation of delay under the Limitation Act, 1963.
Q: What is Article 227 and how is it different from CRP?
A: Article 227 gives the High Court supervisory jurisdiction over all courts and tribunals in the state — broader than Section 115 CPC. Article 227 petitions can target quasi-judicial bodies not covered by Section 115.
Q: Is CRP available in criminal matters?
A: CRP specifically refers to civil revision. Criminal revision petitions are filed under Section 397 CrPC (or BNSS equivalent) — different provisions govern criminal revisional jurisdiction.
