Inquiry as to whether applicant is an indigent person
Full Text
(1) Where an applicant, referred to in rule 1, was allowed to sue or appeal as an indigent person in the Court from whose decree the appeal is preferred, no further inquiry in respect of the question whether or not he is an indigent person shall be necessary if the applicant has made an affidavit stating that he has not ceased to be an indigent person since the date of the decree appealed from; but if the Government Pleader or the respondent disputes the truth of the statement made in such affidavit, an inquiry into the question aforesaid shall be held by the Appellate Court, or, under the orders of the Appellate Court, by an officer of that Court.
(2) Where the applicant, referred to in rule 1, is alleged to have become an indigent person since the date of the decree appealed from, the inquiry into the question whether or not he is an indigent person shall be made by the Appellate Court or, under the orders of the Appellate Court, by an officer of that Court unless the Appellate Court considers it necessary in the circumstances of the case that the inquiry should be held by the Court from whose decision the appeal is preferred.
Plain English Summary
Regulates indigency inquiries in appeal: establishes a presumption of continued indigency upon filing an affidavit if the applicant was already recognized as indigent in the trial court, dispensing with fresh inquiry unless contested; sets procedure where indigency arose after the decree.
Key Legal Elements
- Inserted by 1976 Amendment: Eliminates repetitive, redundant pauper inquiries in appellate proceedings.
- Presumption of Continued Indigency (Sub-rule 1): An affidavit stating the appellant has not ceased to be indigent since the decree suffices without fresh inquiry.
- Rebuttal by Government Pleader / Respondent: Inquiry ordered only if opposite party or State specifically disputes the veracity of the affidavit.
- Inquiry Officer: Appellate court can conduct the inquiry itself or delegate it to a ministerial officer (e.g. Registrar).
- Subsequent Indigency (Sub-rule 2): Where applicant became indigent after decree, inquiry held by appellate court officer or remitted to trial court.
Practical Note
Strategic Use of Affidavit of Continued Indigency: 1. The Affidavit of Continued Indigency (Sub-rule 1): Where a party was permitted to litigate as an indigent person in the trial court under Order XXXIII, filing an affidavit stating 'that the applicant has not ceased to be an indigent person since the date of the decree' under Rule 3(1) is a powerful procedural tool. The appellate court is statutorily bound to dispense with any fresh revenue/Collector inquiry unless the respondent or Government Pleader places concrete rebutting material on record. 2. Delegation to Appellate Officers: To save judicial bench time, District Judges and High Courts routinely refer the inquiry under sub-rule (2) to the Registrar or Deputy Registrar to record evidence of means and submit a factual report.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) जहां नियम 1 में निर्दिष्ट आवेदक को उस न्यायालय में, जिसकी डिक्री के विरुद्ध अपील की गई है, निर्धन व्यक्ति के रूप में वाद लाने या अपील करने की अनुज्ञा दी गई थी, वहां इस प्रश्न के संबंध में कि क्या वह निर्धन व्यक्ति है या नहीं, कोई अतिरिक्त जांच आवश्यक नहीं होगी यदि आवेदक ने एक शपथपत्र प्रस्तुत किया है जिसमें यह कथन किया गया है कि अपील की गई डिक्री की तारीख से उसकी निर्धनता समाप्त नहीं हुई है; किंतु यदि सरकारी प्लीडर अथवा प्रत्यर्थी ऐसे शपथपत्र में किए गए कथन के सत्य होने पर विवाद करता है, तो पूर्वोक्त प्रश्न की जांच अपीलीय न्यायालय द्वारा, अथवा अपीलीय न्यायालय के आदेशों के अधीन उस न्यायालय के किसी अधिकारी द्वारा की जाएगी।
(2) जहां यह अभिकथित है कि नियम 1 में निर्दिष्ट आवेदक अपील की गई डिक्री की तारीख के पश्चात निर्धन व्यक्ति बन गया है, वहां इस प्रश्न की जांच कि क्या वह निर्धन व्यक्ति है या नहीं, अपीलीय न्यायालय द्वारा, अथवा अपीलीय न्यायालय के आदेशों के अधीन उस न्यायालय के किसी अधिकारी द्वारा की जाएगी जब तक कि अपीलीय न्यायालय मामले की परिस्थितियों में यह आवश्यक न समझे कि जांच उस न्यायालय द्वारा की जानी चाहिए जिसके विनिश्चय के विरुद्ध अपील की गई है।