No further appeal in certain cases
Full Text
Notwithstanding anything contained in any Letters Patent for any High Court or in any instrument having the force of law or in any other law for the time being in force, where any appeal from an original or appellate decree or order is heard and decided by a Single Judge of a High Court, no further appeal shall lie from the judgment and decree of such Single Judge.
Plain English Summary
Section 100A completely abolishes intra-court appeals (Letters Patent Appeals) to a Division Bench from any judgment, decree, or order passed by a Single Judge of a High Court exercising appellate jurisdiction over an original or appellate decree or order.
Key Legal Elements
- Non Obstante Overriding Clause: Operates notwithstanding Letters Patent of Chartered High Courts or any other law.
- Comprehensive Appellate Coverage: Applies where Single Judge decides an appeal from an original or appellate decree or order.
- Absolute Prohibition on Further Appeal: Total ban on intra-court Division Bench appeals (LPA) against the Single Judge's appellate decision.
- Early Finality Policy: Designed to prevent repetitive appellate tiers and protracted civil litigation.
Practical Note
Abolition of Letters Patent Appeals & Supreme Court Jurisprudence: (1) Overriding Effect (Non Obstante Clause): Substituted by the CPC (Amendment) Act 22 of 2002 w.e.f. 01-07-2002, Section 100A contains an overriding non-obstante clause that explicitly extinguishes Letters Patent appeals against decisions of a Single Judge rendered in an appeal. (2) Constitutionality Upheld (*Salem Advocate Bar Assn. (II) v. UOI, 2005*): The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of Section 100A, affirming the legislative policy to curb multi-tier appeals and ensure early finality. (3) Sole Remaining Remedy (Article 136): Once a Single Judge decides a First Appeal under Section 96 or a Second Appeal under Section 100 or an appeal from an order under Section 104, no intra-court LPA lies to a Division Bench; the only available legal recourse is a Special Leave Petition (SLP) to the Supreme Court under Article 136 of the Constitution (*Kamal Kumar Dutta v. Ruby General Hospital Ltd., 2006*). (4) Writ Appeals Distinguished: Section 100A bars appeals in civil appellate matters; it does not bar an intra-court appeal (writ appeal) against an order passed by a Single Judge under Article 226.
हिंदी पाठ
किसी उच्च न्यायालय के किसी लेटर्स पेटेंट (Letters Patent) में या विधि का बल रखने वाली किसी लिखत में अथवा तत्समय प्रवृत्त किसी अन्य विधि में किसी बात के होते हुए भी, जहाँ किसी मूल या अपीलीय डिक्री या आदेश से कोई अपील उच्च न्यायालय के किसी एकल न्यायाधीश (Single Judge) द्वारा सुनी और विनिश्चित की जाती है, वहाँ ऐसे एकल न्यायाधीश के निर्णय और डिक्री से कोई और अपील (further appeal) नहीं होगी।