Gujarat High Court Civil Manual (subordinate court practice), 1960
A written statement is not essential to the progress of a suit. There are many defendants who are illiterate, ignorant and too poor to obtain legal advice. In their case the object of a written statement may be attained by the examination of the defendant (see Order X, rule 1) or of some one personally acquainted with the facts which constitute a defence to the suit. In examining such a person the Judge should have in mind the provisions of Orders VI and VIII so as to be able to elicit what can be said in reply to the allegations made by the plaintiff.