versus

Written “v.” (Indian and English style) or “vs.” in case titles, e.g. Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala. The party who starts the proceeding is named first in the trial court; in appeals, the appellant is usually named first, so the order of names can change as a case moves up.

Criminal cases are generally titled with the State as prosecutor, e.g. State of Maharashtra v. X. When reading a case aloud, “v.” is read as “and” in English practice and as “versus” in Indian practice.

Example

In Shayara Bano v. Union of India, the petitioner challenged the practice of triple talaq.

See also

plaintiff · appellant · citation

Read more in the study notes

• Administrative law: meaning, nature, scope, growth and sources (Administrative Law)
• Separation of powers and its bearing on administrative law (Administrative Law)
• Rule of law and droit administratif (Administrative Law)
• Delegated legislation: meaning, growth, merits and administrative directions (Administrative Law)
• Judicial power of the administration: quasi-judicial functions and administrative adjudication (Administrative Law)
• The rule against bias (Administrative Law)