Powers of Appellate Court
Full Text
(1) Subject to such conditions and limitations as may be prescribed, an Appellate Court shall have power—
(a) to determine a case finally;
(b) to remand a case;
(c) to frame issues and refer them for trial;
(d) to take additional evidence or to require such evidence to be taken.
(2) Subject as aforesaid, the Appellate Court shall have the same powers and shall perform as nearly as may be the same duties as are conferred and imposed by this Code on Courts of original jurisdiction in respect of suits instituted therein.
Plain English Summary
Section 107 outlines the core statutory powers of civil appellate courts, authorizing final determination, remand, framing of referred issues, and admission of additional evidence, while conferring co-extensive powers and duties identical to trial courts of original jurisdiction.
Key Legal Elements
- Four Specific Appellate Powers (Sec 107(1)): Final determination, remand, framing/referring issues, and taking additional evidence.
- Procedural Harmony with Order XLI: Exercise of powers is subject to the conditions and limitations prescribed in Order XLI Rules 23–29.
- Trial Parity Doctrine (Sec 107(2)): Appellate court possesses co-extensive powers and duties as the court of original jurisdiction.
- Continuation of Suit: Establishes the foundational principle that an appeal is a continuation of the original proceeding.
Practical Note
Appellate Powers, Order XLI Linkage & Trial Parity Doctrine: (1) Procedural Machinery in Order XLI: The powers enumerated in Section 107(1) are given procedural expression in Order XLI: Final determination (Rule 24), Remand (Rules 23 & 23A), Framing issues for trial findings (Rule 25), and Additional evidence (Rule 27). (2) Parity with Original Trial Court (Sec 107(2)): Under sub-section (2), an appeal is a continuation of the original suit. The appellate court can exercise all trial court powers, such as allowing amendment of pleadings (Order VI Rule 17), impleading necessary parties (Order I Rule 10), granting temporary injunctions (Order XXXIX), recording compromises (Order XXIII Rule 3), or permitting withdrawal of suit with liberty to file fresh (Order XXIII Rule 1). (3) Strict Construction of Additional Evidence: Additional evidence under Section 107(1)(d) read with Order XLI Rule 27 cannot be used to fill lacunae; it is permissible only if the trial court improperly refused admissible evidence, or despite due diligence the evidence was unavailable, or the appellate court requires it to pronounce judgment.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) ऐसी शर्तों और सीमाओं के अधीन रहते हुए, जो विहित की जाएं, अपीली न्यायालय को निम्नलिखित शक्तियां होंगी—
(क) किसी मामले का अंतिम रूप से अवधारण करना;
(ख) किसी मामले को प्रतिप्रेषित (remand) करना;
(ग) विवाद्यक (issues) विरचित करना और उन्हें विचारण के लिए निर्देशित करना;
(घ) अतिरिक्त साक्ष्य लेना या ऐसे साक्ष्य के लिए अपेक्षा करना कि वह लिया जाए।
(2) पूर्वोक्त के अधीन रहते हुए, अपीली न्यायालय को वही शक्तियां होंगी और वह लगभग उन्हीं कर्तव्यों का पालन करेगा जो मूल अधिकारिता के न्यायालयों को उनमें संस्थित वादों के संबंध में इस संहिता द्वारा प्रदत्त और अधिरोपित किए गए हैं।