Juristic person may sue as an indigent litigant under Order 33 when statutory context supports a wider meaning of person.

Order 33, Rule 1 of the Code of Civil Procedure is an enabling provision intended to allow litigation without immediate court fee where the applicant lacks means, and the term "person" is not confined to natural persons when the statutory context supports a wider meaning. The provision's scheme, including the explanation to Rule 1 and the use of "person" elsewhere in the Code, supports inclusion of juristic persons, and the requirement of presentation in person does not exclude representation through a competent agent. A public limited company may therefore sue as an indigent person through a representative.

---

---

Issues: Whether a juristic person such as a public limited company is entitled to sue as an indigent person under Order 33, Rule 1 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

Analysis: Order 33 is an enabling and benevolent provision intended to permit institution of suits without immediate payment of court fee where the litigant lacks sufficient means. The expression "person" is not defined in the Code, and the context does not compel a restriction to natural persons. The explanation to Rule 1, the scheme of the provision, and the use of the word "person" elsewhere in the Code support an extended meaning. The requirement in Rule 3 that the application be presented by the applicant in person does not exclude a company, because a juristic person acts through a competent representative, just as minors or persons under disability act through guardians or next friends.

Conclusion: The word "person" in Order 33, Rule 1 includes a juristic person, and a public limited company can sue as an indigent person.

Ratio Decidendi: The expression "person" in Order 33 of the Code of Civil Procedure must be construed in its statutory context to include juristic persons unless the context repels such a construction, and a company may sue as an indigent person through a competent representative.

---