Gujarat High Court Civil Manual (subordinate court practice), 1960
(1) The Court should enforce the Rule as to "opening" a case. When the parties have their oral evidence ready, the law directs (Order XVIII, rule 2) that the party having the right to begin should state his case, and produce his evidence in support of the issues which he is bound to prove. The other party has then to state his case, and produce his evidence, if any, and may then address the Court generally on the whole case, the party beginning being permitted to reply generally. (2) It is absolutely necessary that the case should be opened in order that time may be saved. It is essential that the evidence of each side should be preceded by a brief and clear statement of the case to be made out, showing the exact nature of the claim, the facts to be established by the evidence which will be adduced, the general character and bearing of that evidence, the names of witnesses to be examined, and a clear statement of any proposition of law involved. The case stated in the opening must be in accordance with the party's pleadings, for no litigant can be allowed to make at the trial a case different from that which he has pleaded and of which only his adversary has notice. (3) In complicated suits, the judge should make brief notes of the case stated in the opening and keep them on the record.