Procedure where Judges of Court of appeal are equally divided
Full Text
When an appeal under this Chapter is heard by a High Court before a Bench of Judges and they are divided in opinion, the appeal, with their opinions, shall be laid before another Judge of that Court, and that Judge, after such hearing as he thinks fit, shall deliver his opinion, and the judgment or order shall follow that opinion:
Provided that if one of the Judges constituting the Bench, or, where the appeal is laid before another Judge under this section, that Judge, so requires, the appeal shall be re-heard and decided by a larger Bench of Judges.
Plain English Summary
Outlines the procedure for resolving a tie in judicial opinions at the High Court level by referring the matter to a third judge or a larger bench.
Key Legal Elements
- Scenario: High Court Bench split in opinion
- Mechanism: Referral to another (third) judge
- Outcome: Judgment follows the third judge's opinion
- Alternative: Rehearing by a larger Bench
Practical Note
This section (equivalent to Section 392 CrPC) ensures that an appeal does not fail simply because of an even split in the bench. The third judge acts as a referee.
हिंदी पाठ
जब इस अध्याय के अधीन किसी अपील की सुनवाई उच्च न्यायालय द्वारा न्यायाधीशों की एक पीठ के समक्ष की जाती है और वे राय में विभाजित होते हैं, तो अपील, उनकी राय के साथ, उस न्यायालय के दूसरे न्यायाधीश के समक्ष रखी जाएगी, और वह न्यायाधीश, ऐसी सुनवाई के बाद जैसा वह उचित समझे, अपनी राय देगा, और निर्णय या आदेश उस राय के अनुसार होगा:
परंतु यह कि यदि पीठ बनाने वाले न्यायाधीशों में से कोई एक, या, जहां इस धारा के तहत अपील दूसरे न्यायाधीश के समक्ष रखी गई है, वह न्यायाधीश, ऐसा चाहता है, तो अपील की फिर से सुनवाई की जाएगी और न्यायाधीशों की एक बड़ी पीठ द्वारा निर्णय लिया जाएगा।