Chapter 20

The Four Kinds of Reply

Admission, denial, a special plea, and a plea of former judgment—thus, the reply is of four kinds. // K_165 //

When the other party, having heard the meaning of the plaint, denies it either in substance or in words, that is to be known as a reply of denial. // K_166 //

If the accused makes a denial of the accusation, that should be known as a reply of denial in a legal proceeding. // K_167 //

A truthful statement regarding the claim is called an admission. // K_168 //

"This is false," "I do not know," "I was not present there at that time," and "I was not yet born"—thus, denial is of four kinds. // K_169 //

When the defendant, admitting the matter stated by the plaintiff, then states a reason, Guru (Bṛhaspati) has called this a special plea. // K_170 //

If one who has already been defeated in a proceeding has it written down again, he should be told, "You have been defeated before." This is called a plea of former judgment. // K_171 //

"I can prove it by guildsmen, by witnesses, or by a written document," and "This man was defeated by me before"—this is the three-fold plea of former judgment. // K_172 //