Reference to High Court under proviso to section 113
Full Text
The provisions of rules 2, 3 and 4 shall apply to any reference by the Court under the proviso to section 113 as they apply to a reference under rule 1.
Plain English Summary
Applies the procedural rules on contingent decrees, transmission of judgments, and costs (Rules 2, 3, and 4) to constitutional references made under the mandatory proviso to Section 113 of the Code regarding the validity of Acts, Ordinances, or Regulations.
Key Legal Elements
- Inserted by Act 24 of 1951: Aligns CPC with constitutional judicial review post-Constitution of India.
- Mandatory Proviso to Section 113: Applies when a court is satisfied that a case involves the validity of an Act, Ordinance, or Regulation whose determination is necessary, and believes it to be invalid without prior High Court/Supreme Court pronouncement.
- Applies to All Suits (Appealable or Non-Appealable): Unlike Rule 1, Section 113 proviso applies across all civil suits regardless of appealability.
- Contingent Decree / Stay Mechanics Apply: Trial court may stay or pass contingent decree under Rule 2; High Court transmits binding judgment under Rule 3.
Practical Note
Constitutional References under Section 113 Proviso & Rule 4A: 1. Subordinate Courts Cannot Invalidate Statutes: Under the constitutional scheme, subordinate civil courts have no power to declare any statutory provision, Act, or Regulation unconstitutional. Under the mandatory proviso to Section 113 read with Rule 4A, if a subordinate judge forms an opinion that a statute is ultra vires, they MUST state a case and refer it to the High Court (Central Bank of India v. Their Workmen, AIR 1960 SC 12). 2. Three Mandatory Tests for Section 113 Proviso: The court must be satisfied that: (i) the question of validity is necessary for disposal; (ii) the court is of the opinion that the provision is invalid; and (iii) neither the High Court nor the Supreme Court has previously declared it invalid.
हिंदी पाठ
नियम 2, 3 और 4 के उपबंध धारा 113 के परंतुक के अधीन न्यायालय द्वारा किए गए किसी निर्देश को उसी प्रकार लागू होंगे जैसे वे नियम 1 के अधीन किसी निर्देश को लागू होते हैं।