Specimen Special Leave Petition -- Format Under Article 136 2026

Specimen Special Leave Petition

[Complete template -- civil matter]

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) NO. _____ OF 20XX

[Under Article 136 of the Constitution of India]

[Petitioner Name] ..... PETITIONER

VERSUS

[Respondent Name] ..... RESPONDENT(S)

SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION AGAINST THE JUDGMENT/ORDER DATED [Date] PASSED BY THE HIGH COURT OF [State] IN [Case No.]

SYNOPSIS

[1-2 page concise summary of the case -- the dispute, lower court findings, High Court's order, and why the Supreme Court should grant leave. This is CRITICAL -- the bench reads the synopsis first and forms an initial impression.]

LIST OF DATES AND EVENTS

[Chronological list of key dates and events -- from the original transaction to the High Court's order]

GROUNDS

The Petitioner seeks leave to appeal on the following grounds:

A. The High Court ERRED IN LAW by holding that [specific legal error]. The correct position of law, as laid down by this Court in [cite Supreme Court precedent], is [correct position].

B. The impugned order creates a CONFLICT with the judgment of [another High Court] in [Case Name, Citation] -- on the same question of law. This Court's intervention is necessary to settle the law uniformly.

C. The question of law involved is of GENERAL PUBLIC IMPORTANCE and requires authoritative pronouncement by this Court.

D. The High Court's findings are PERVERSE -- contrary to the evidence on record and established legal principles.

E. The High Court FAILED TO CONSIDER binding precedent of this Court in [Case Name] which directly governs the present case.

PRAYER

The Petitioner prays that this Court may be pleased to:

(a) Grant Special Leave to Appeal against the impugned judgment/order;

(b) Set aside the impugned order dated [Date];

(c) Grant stay of the impugned order pending hearing;

(d) Award costs throughout;

(e) Pass such other orders as this Court may deem fit.

Filed by: [Advocate-on-Record Name, AOR No.]

Drawn by: [Senior Advocate/Advocate Name]

Date: [Date] | New Delhi

ANNEXURES

P-1: Certified copy of the impugned High Court order
P-2: [Trial court decree]
P-3: [Key documents relied upon]

Filing Requirements

(a) Can be filed ONLY by an ADVOCATE-ON-RECORD (AOR) -- a CS can draft but the AOR files and appears, (b) certified copy of the impugned order is MANDATORY, (c) court fee: as prescribed (varies by case type), (d) limitation: 90 days (civil) / 60 days (criminal) from the impugned order, (e) file through the Supreme Court's e-filing portal or in person at the Registry, (f) 5 sets of the petition (including one for the court record).

Leave Stage

The SLP is first heard at the LEAVE STAGE -- typically before a 2-judge bench. The AOR makes brief oral submissions (5-10 minutes) explaining why leave should be granted. The court either: (a) GRANTS leave -- SLP becomes a regular appeal, notice issued to respondent, (b) ISSUES NOTICE -- without granting leave, seeks respondent's response, (c) DISMISSES -- SLP rejected (most common outcome -- the Supreme Court entertains only 10-15% of SLPs filed). The synopsis quality significantly influences the outcome at leave stage.