Procedure in suits involving validity of any statutory instrument
Full Text
In any suit in which it appears to the Court that any question as to the validity of any statutory instrument, not being a question of the nature mentioned in rule 1, is involved, the Court shall not proceed to determine that question except after giving notice—
(a) to the Government pleader, if the question concerns the Government, or
(b) to the authority which issued the statutory instrument, if the question concerns an authority other than Government.
Plain English Summary
Inserted by Act 104 of 1976 prohibiting courts from adjudicating the ultra vires validity of delegated/subordinate legislation (statutory rules, notifications, bye-laws, schemes) without giving prior notice to the Government Pleader or the issuing statutory authority.
Key Legal Elements
- Scope: Validity of subordinate legislation ('statutory instrument') other than pure constitutional interpretation.
- Statutory Bar on Determination: Mandatory notice before court enters upon adjudication of validity.
- Notice to Government Pleader: Where the impugned rule or notification was framed by the Central or State Government.
- Notice to Issuing Authority: Where framed by municipal corporations, development authorities, universities, or statutory boards.
Practical Note
Challenging Municipal Bye-Laws or Government Notifications: When filing a civil suit challenging a building bye-law of a municipal corporation, an urban development scheme, or a service regulation as ultra vires the parent Act, ensure that notice under Rule 1A is served on the issuing authority or the Government Pleader. Failing to issue notice enables the authority to have any injunction set aside in appeal.
हिंदी पाठ
किसी भी ऐसे वाद में, जिसमें न्यायालय को यह प्रतीत होता है कि किसी कानूनी लिखत (Statutory instrument - नियम, अधिसूचना, उपविधि, योजना) की विधिमान्यता के बारे में कोई ऐसा प्रश्न अंतर्वलित है जो नियम 1 में उल्लिखित प्रकृति का नहीं है, न्यायालय उस प्रश्न का अवधारण करने के लिए निम्नलिखित को सूचना दिए बिना अग्रसर नहीं होगा—
(क) शासकीय प्लीडर को, यदि वह प्रश्न सरकार से संबंधित है; अथवा
(ख) उस प्राधिकारी को जिसने वह कानूनी लिखत जारी की थी, यदि वह प्रश्न सरकार से भिन्न किसी प्राधिकारी से संबंधित है।