Grounds which may be taken in appeal
Full Text
The appellant shall not, except by leave of the Court, urge or be heard in support of any ground of objection not set forth in the memorandum of appeal; but the Appellate Court, in deciding the appeal, shall not be confined to the grounds of objections set forth in the memorandum of appeal or taken by leave of the Court under this rule:
Provided that the Court shall not rest its decision on any other ground unless the party who may be affected thereby has had a sufficient opportunity of contesting the case on that ground.
Plain English Summary
Restricts the appellant to the grounds stated in the appeal memorandum unless granted leave by court, while permitting the appellate court to decide on other legal grounds provided affected parties receive adequate opportunity to contest.
Key Legal Elements
- Leave Required for New Grounds: Appellant cannot raise new factual pleas absent leave of court.
- Pure Questions of Law: Pure questions of law or jurisdiction can be permitted at any stage without amendment of grounds.
- Court Not Confined to Grounds: Appellate Court possesses wide suo motu power to decide on unpleaded legal points.
- Proviso Safeguard (Natural Justice): If court rests decision on a new ground, affected party must be afforded full hearing.
- No Surprise Pleas on Facts: Factual objections not raised in trial court cannot be introduced by leave.
Practical Note
Pure Questions of Law vs New Factual Controversies: 1. Supreme Court Principle — Chittoori Subbanna v. Kudappa Subbanna (AIR 1965 SC 1325): A pure question of law, such as patent lack of inherent jurisdiction, bar of limitation apparent on the face of the record, or statutory illegality, can be raised for the first time in appeal under Rule 2 even without formal amendment of the memorandum of appeal. 2. New Questions of Fact Strictly Barred: Questions of fact or mixed questions of fact and law that were never raised in the pleadings or issues in the trial court cannot be permitted under Rule 2, as it would cause serious prejudice to the opposing party.
हिंदी पाठ
अपीलार्थी न्यायालय की इजाजत के बिना, आक्षेप के ऐसे किसी आधार के समर्थन में न तो कोई दलील देगा और न ही सुना जाएगा जो अपील के ज्ञापन में अधिकथित नहीं किया गया है; किंतु अपीलीय न्यायालय अपील का विनिश्चय करने में, अपील के ज्ञापन में अधिकथित अथवा इस नियम के अधीन न्यायालय की इजाजत से लिए गए आक्षेप के आधारों तक ही सीमित नहीं रहेगा:
परंतु न्यायालय अपना विनिश्चय किसी अन्य आधार पर तब तक आधारित नहीं करेगा जब तक कि उससे प्रभावित होने वाले पक्षकार को उस आधार पर मामले का विरोध करने का पर्याप्त अवसर न मिल चुका हो।