SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2014 Supreme(Bom) 173

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY (NAGPUR BENCH)
A.P. BHANGALE, J.
Wadhumal s/o. late Sakhawatrai Khodecha
Vs.
Smt. Mohinibai w/o. Awatram Khodecha & Ors.
Second Appeal No. 551 of 2011
Decided On: 24th January, 2014

Advocates Appeared:
Mr. DARASINGH SINDHU, Advocate for appellant.
Mr. A.A. BOBDE, Advocate for respondents no. 1,4,6,7.
Mr. D.M. KALE, AGP for respondents no. 2 and 3 Respondent no. 5 Deleted.

Headnote:Civil Procedure Code, 1908 - Section 96 - First appeal. - Since points for determination framed by First Appellate Court were inadequate hence matter remanded to First Appellate Court for framing points afresh.

JUDGMENT

The appellant had raised substantial question of law which is reflected in order dated 3.12.2012 passed by this Court as to whether the 1st appellate Court by merely asking the question as to whether the judgment of the Court below is correct, legal and valid, is hopelessly inadequate method of meeting the requirement of legal provisions.

2. Heard submissions at the Bar. As this appeal was fixed for hearing or dismissal after absence of the Advocate for appellant was noted on 6.12.2013 and 10.1.2014.

3. Learned counsel for the appellant with reference to ruling in Khatunbi Mohammad Sayeed & ors v. Aminabai Mohd Sabir and ors reported in 2007 (2) Bom. C.R. 900 : [2006(6) ALL MR 310] submitted that the 1st appellate Court as final court of facts, is expected to take all the points for determination for the decision on each point to record the reasons for decision as also reasons in respect of all the issues arising from the decree appealed from, and the relief to which the appellant is entitled as stated in paragraph 5 of the ruling. Reference is also made to paragraph 7 with particular mention to Order 41, rule 31 CPC to argue that 1st appellate court cannot adopt hopelessly inadequate method by merely asking itself the question as to whether impugned judgment is correct, legal or valid since it is final court of facts. The 1st appellate Court is under obligation to frame all necessary points for determination so as to focus on all the issues raised by the parties in the trial Court and to answer all the issues which were raised as it is final court of facts 1st appellate Judge can, after considering all the rival contentions in the light of evidence led on record, meet all the points while it decides the First Appeal on merits on the basis of properly formulated points for determination.

4. Therefore, learned counsel for appellant submitted that the impugned judgment and order framed hopelessly inadequate points for determination as follows:

(i) Whether the learned lower Court properly appreciated the evidence on record?

(ii) Whether the judgment and decree passed by the learned lower Court is bad in law?

(iii) What order ?"

He submits that learned appellate Court ignored the issues which were raised by the parties in the trial Court in respect of all the questions of facts and law which were required to be decided.

5. Learned counsel for respondent, on the other hand, contended that 1st appellate Judge did consider the necessary issues with reasons forming the impugned judgment. Therefore, no interference is required to be made in the impugned judgment and order particularly when the order by 1st appellate Court is concurrent with the trial Court.

6. I have perused ruling in Khatunbi Aminabai's case, [2006(6) ALL MR 310] (supra) cited before me delivered by the Division Bench of this Court. It cannot be disputed that after calling R & P from the trial Court, it is necessary for the 1st appellate Court to appreciate pleadings made by the parties as also to analyse the evidence led - oral as well as documentary on the record apart from considering questions of law which are raised. Speaking order with reasons is necessary to be recorded by 1st Appellate Court after meeting all the points in dispute, because it is a final Court of Facts. The second appeal is heard constrained within limits of formulated substantial questions of law. However, First Appellate Court, no doubt, may reverse or affirm findings recorded by the trial Court. The appellant in the 1st appellate Court do have very valuable right to be heard on the basis of facts pleaded in the trial Court to address the Court all the issues raised on the basis of pleadings and upon all rival contentions so that 1st appellate court can by conscious application of mind frame points for determination to give reasoned findings in respect of all the issues and contentions raised by the party to the appeal. It is duty of 1st appellate Court as final court of facts to deal with all



Click Here to Read the rest of this document

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon telegram-icon
whatsapp-icon Back to top