Where evidence on record sufficient Appellate Court may determine case finally
Full Text
Where the evidence upon the record is sufficient to enable the Appellate Court to pronounce judgment, the Appellate Court may, after resettling the issues, if necessary, finally determine the suit, notwithstanding that the judgment of the Court from whose decree the appeal is preferred has proceeded wholly upon some ground other than that on which the Appellate Court proceeds.
Plain English Summary
Mandates that where the evidence on record is sufficient, the appellate court should resettle issues if needed and finally determine the suit itself rather than remanding it back to the trial court.
Key Legal Elements
- Sufficient Evidence on Record: Depositions, exhibits, and documents available on trial record enable complete adjudication.
- Resettling of Issues: Appellate court can reframe or formulate correct issues based on pleadings.
- Final Determination Mandate: Avoids unnecessary remands and curtails multi-tiered litigation delays.
- Different Ground Permissible: Appellate court can decide on grounds completely different from the trial court's reasoning.
Practical Note
Rule 24 as a Statutory Antidote to Delays: 1. Statutory Duty of Appellate Court: In Ashwinkumar K. Patel v. Upendra J. Patel (1999) 3 SCC 161 and Bhairab Chandra Nandan v. Ranadhir Chandra Dutta (1988) 1 SCC 383, the Supreme Court held that the High Court or appellate court should not remand matters when the evidence is already on record. An unnecessary remand causes immense hardship, escalation of costs, and generational delay. 2. First Appeal as Final Fact-Finding Court: The first appellate court has co-extensive powers with the trial court under Section 107 CPC. It must re-appreciate the entire oral and documentary evidence independently.
हिंदी पाठ
जहां अभिलेख पर साक्ष्य अपीलीय न्यायालय को निर्णय सुनाने में समर्थ बनाने के लिए पर्याप्त है, वहां अपीलीय न्यायालय, यदि आवश्यक हो तो विवाद्यकों को पुनः स्थिर करने के पश्चात, वाद का अंतिम अवधारण कर सकेगा, भले ही उस न्यायालय का निर्णय जिसकी डिक्री के विरुद्ध अपील की गई है, पूर्णतः किसी ऐसे आधार पर आधारित रहा हो जो उस आधार से भिन्न है जिस पर अपीलीय न्यायालय अग्रसर होता है।