Certificate as to value or fitness
Full Text
(1) Every petition shall state the grounds of appeal and pray for a certificate—
(i) that the case involves a substantial question of law of general importance, and
(ii) that in the opinion of the Court the said question needs to be decided by the Supreme Court.
(2) Upon receipt of such petition, the Court shall direct notice to be served on the opposite party to show cause why the said certificate should not be granted.
Plain English Summary
Prescribes the two constitutional criteria for granting a certificate of fitness for appeal to the Supreme Court under Article 133(1): (i) involvement of a substantial question of law of general importance, and (ii) court's opinion that the question needs Supreme Court determination.
Key Legal Elements
- Substituted by Act 49 of 1973: Aligned with the 30th Constitutional Amendment which eliminated pecuniary value tests (formerly Rs. 20,000).
- Two-Pronged Constitutional Test: (1) Substantial question of law of general importance; AND (2) In the High Court's opinion, needs authoritative resolution by Supreme Court.
- Notice to Opposite Party (Sub-rule 2): Court must issue show-cause notice before deciding whether to grant or refuse certificate.
- Distinction from Section 100 CPC: Merely a 'substantial question of law' between the parties is insufficient; it must be of 'general importance' affecting the public or legal community widely.
Practical Note
The Two-Pronged Test for Supreme Court Certificate under Rule 3 & Article 133: 1. 'Substantial Question of Law of General Importance': In State of Jammu & Kashmir v. Thakur Ganga Singh (AIR 1960 SC 356) and Ahmedabad Mfg. & Calico Ptg. Co. Ltd. v. Ram Tahel Ramnand (1972) 1 SCC 898, the Supreme Court ruled that a question of law is of 'general importance' only when it affects a large body of citizens or conflicting interpretations exist between different High Courts that require authoritative settlement. A question that merely affects the immediate rights of the private parties does NOT satisfy Rule 3. 2. Second Limb — 'Needs to be Decided by Supreme Court': Even if a question of law of general importance is involved, the High Court will not grant a certificate if the law is already well settled by existing Supreme Court precedents. 3. Remedy on Refusal: When the High Court refuses a certificate under Rule 3/Rule 6, the appellant's sole remedy is to file a Special Leave Petition (SLP) under Article 136 of the Constitution within 90 days of refusal.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) प्रत्येक याचिका में अपील के आधारों का कथन होगा और यह प्रार्थना होगी कि प्रमाणपत्र दिया जाए कि—
(i) मामले में व्यापक महत्व का कोई सारभूत विधि प्रश्न (Substantial question of law of general importance) अंतर्वलित है, तथा
(ii) न्यायालय की राय में उक्त प्रश्न का विनिश्चय उच्चतम न्यायालय द्वारा किया जाना आवश्यक है।
(2) ऐसी याचिका की प्राप्ति पर, न्यायालय विरोधी पक्षकार पर यह कारण दर्शित करने के लिए सूचना की तामील किए जाने का निदेश देगा कि उक्त प्रमाणपत्र क्यों न दिया जाए।