What is Cause of Action in Civil Law?

Cause of action refers to the complete set of facts that give a person the legal right to approach a court for relief. It forms the foundation of every civil suit. Without a cause of action, a suit is not maintainable in law.

The Court has said that cause of action includes all material facts that the plaintiff must prove to succeed in the case.

It does not include evidence, but only the essential facts showing how a legal right arose and how it was violated.

Under the Civil Procedure Code, cause of action is important for deciding jurisdiction, limitation, and rejection of plaints. A plaint that does not disclose a cause of action can be rejected at the initial stage itself.