Can a foreign company file a suit in India?

Asked by: Bernardo Runolfsson  |  Last update: January 22, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (20 votes)

Filing Civil Suit for Recovery of Money & Claiming Compensation & Damages: Foreign individuals and companies can file a civil suit in the appropriate Indian court seeking a money judgment against the Indian debtor.

Can a foreign entity file a suit in India?

Under Section 83 of Code of Civil Procedure, 1809, an alien can initiate a civil proceeding in India. Further, under Section 188 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 provides foreign entities to approach the Indian Courts to initiate criminal action against an Indian.

Can a foreigner file a complaint in India?

Filing a Criminal Complaint under Section 200:NRIs can also file a criminal complaint under Section 200 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. This section outlines the procedure for Magistrates to take cognizance of an offense upon a complaint.

Who can file a suit in India?

(1) Any two or more persons claiming or being liable as partners and carrying on business in, 1[India] may sue or be sued in the name of the firm (if any) of which such persons were partners at the time of the accruing of the cause of action, and any party to a suit may in such case apply to the Court for a statement ...

Can you file a lawsuit against a foreign company?

Suing a foreign company involves navigating unique challenges that can make an overseas lawsuit difficult, if not impossible, to win. The process largely depends on where the contract was signed and if it contains specific terms about lawsuits.

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15 related questions found

Can a foreigner file a lawsuit?

Yes, immigrants, permanent residents, and tourists can sue in the United States. The legal system generally allows anyone within U.S. jurisdiction to bring a lawsuit, regardless of their immigration status.

Can I file a complaint against a foreign company?

Consumers can use econsumer.gov to report cross-border complaints.

Can we file a lawsuit in India?

Yes, you can file a civil suit without a lawyer in India, as individuals have the right to represent themselves in court.

Can a company file a writ petition in India?

How a Writ petition must be verified, particularly a Writ petition by a company, appears from Rules 14 and 15 of the Writ Rules, which... because he is a Director of the petitioner company he is “as such” competent and authorised to move this Court and to sign and verify the Writ petition.

How do I file a defamation suit in India?

File the Case: Submit the plaint or complaint in the appropriate court. For civil defamation, file in the civil court where the defendant resides or where the defamation occurred. For criminal defamation, file in the local magistrate's court.

Can a foreigner file case in India?

Filing Civil Suit for Recovery of Money & Claiming Compensation & Damages: Foreign individuals and companies can file a civil suit in the appropriate Indian court seeking a money judgment against the Indian debtor.

Can NRI file complaint in India?

All NRIs who have any complaint against an individual or an authority in India can submit a petition detailing their grievances to the Consular Wing. The same is then forwarded to the appropriate authority in India for redressal.

How do I file a complaint against a foreign company in India?

Register your complaint online with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. You need to fill up this form with information such as your name, city, country, nature of complaint, complaint category, company name etc.

Can US citizens file case in India?

Yes you can, be it usa or any other country you can always file a civil case by virtue of explanation to s. 10 of civil procedure code,1908 which says that nothing precludes Indian courts from instituting a civil suit in an Indian court provided the parties and cause of action are same.

Can I sue a company in India?

The National Consumer Helpline is an initiative of the Indian Government to assist consumers in lodging complaints and thereby obtaining redress for issues related to products or services. With the help of this platform, consumers who do not want to engage a lawyer can successfully sue the companies.

Can a foreign company operate in India without registration?

Foreign companies can establish branch offices in India to undertake specified activities, subject to approval from the RBI. Branch offices are extensions of the foreign company and do not have a separate legal identity from the parent company.

Can foreigners file writ petition in India?

Union of India'3, the Hon'ble Supreme Court upheld the right of foreign national to take recourse to Writ Jurisdiction for enforcement of the Fundamental Rights.

What are the grounds for a writ of mandamus?

You could file a petition for a writ of mandamus in these situations: To compel the lower court to rule on a motion, such as a post-conviction motion, that was filed a long time ago and no action was taken. To compel a lower court to decide a case that was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction in error.

How do I start a petition against a company?

The petition must be in writing and be accompanied by the CBSC Petition Form (BSC-30). The form requires the following: Explain the problem and rationale for this petition. Explain how the issue has statewide significance.

How much does it cost to sue someone in India?

In all suits triable by Court of Small Causes, the fee shall be 10% of the amount claimed subject to a minimum of Rs. 300/. 5. In all money suits, the fee shall be calculated at the rate of 10% of the claim involved in such suits when it does not exceed Rs.

Can you sue a company for emotional distress in India?

In case of a violation of your contract, you can file a case in a civil court. Cases of mental harassment can be filed in the civil court as well as a criminal court, if you add the charge of criminal intimidation.

How can I file a case without a lawyer in India?

Section 32 of the Advocate's Act empowers you, the citizen, to appear before the court even if you're not an advocate. This means you can draft and submit your own petition, argue your case, and represent yourself throughout the legal proceedings. It's your right, granted by the law, to fight for your own justice.

Do US laws apply to foreign companies?

In general, if you are doing business in the United States, it is likely that you are subject to the jurisdiction of one or more U.S. courts. For example, if a foreign company sells a product in the United States that causes an injury or death, that company could face a consumer lawsuit or regulatory action here.

How do I file a lawsuit against an international company?

File the suit in the district in which the contract was signed or the one specified by the contract. The plaintiff must petition the court clerk by paying the filing fees with the help of an international lawyer. The filing process will vary from country to country.

How do I complain about an international company?

Econsumer.gov provides a platform to gather and share cross-border e-commerce complaints. It began with four languages, in 2001, as an initiative of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), with the support of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).