Civil litigation is the broad category covering disputes between private parties that don't fall under a more specific area — breach of contract, recovery of money owed, injunctions to stop someone from doing something, declaratory suits to establish a legal right, suits for specific performance of an agreement, and claims for damages or compensation. These are governed procedurally by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC), with the underlying rights typically arising from the Indian Contract Act, 1872, the Specific Relief Act, 1963, or general tort principles.
A civil suit begins with a plaint (the plaintiff's statement of claim), followed by a written statement from the defendant, framing of issues, evidence, arguments, and judgment. Civil suits are also subject to the Limitation Act, 1963, which sets strict time limits — typically three years for most contract and money-recovery claims from when the cause of action arose — after which the right to sue may be lost entirely.
Given how long contested civil litigation can take, many disputes are now resolved faster through mediation or arbitration where the contract allows for it, or through pre-litigation settlement negotiations. If you're considering filing a suit or have been served with one, checking the limitation period and available evidence early is important — a lawyer can help assess both before you commit to a particular course of action.