Question

A has filed a suit for breach of contract against ‘B’. The District Court at Chandigarh decided in A’s favour. B, however, appealed to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The legal terminology for B is appellant, while A would be called?

• A. Accused
• B. Plaintiff
• C. Defendant
• D. Respondent

Hint:

Mnemonic: The one who Appeals is the Appellant. The one who Responds is the Respondent. "Accused" is only used in criminal cases, not contract suits.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Identify parties at the trial stage.
When A files a civil suit against B at the trial court, A is the Plaintiff and B is the Defendant.
Step 2: Understand how party names shift at the appellate stage.
B loses at the trial court and files an appeal before the High Court; the party who files the appeal is called the Appellant, and the party who responds to that appeal is called the Respondent.
Step 3: Apply to A's designation in the High Court.
Since B has filed the appeal, A must respond to it; at the appellate stage A's designation changes from Plaintiff to Respondent - the party defending the trial court's original decision; "Accused" applies only in criminal proceedings.
\[ \boxed{\text{Respondent}} \]