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Section 96- Appeal From Original Decrees- A Comprehensive Study

This article basically focuses on appeal from original decrees made under Section 96 of the Code of
Civil Procedure. The First part of the Project Report deals with introduction as to what is meant by
appeal and especially appeal from original decrees. The second Part of the Project Report deals with
the nature and scope of the Section. The third part of the Project Repot deals with the leading case
laws on right to appeal and Doctrine of Merger and lastly, the conclusion of the article.

The expression appeal has not been defined in the Code of Civil Procedure 1908. It is an application
or petition to appeal higher Court for are consideration of the decision of appeal lower court.1 It is
appeal proceeding for review to be carried out by appeal higher authority of appeal decision given
by appeal lower one.2 An appeal is appeal creature of statute and right to appeal is neither an
inherent nor natural right.

Appeal person aggrieved by appeal decree is not entitled as or right to appeal from decree. The right
to appeal must be given by statute. Section 9 confers on appeal litigant, independently of any
statute, appeal right to institute appeal suit of civil nature in appeal court of law. So he has appeal
right to apply for execution of appeal decree passed in his favour, but he has no right to appeal from
appeal decree or order made against him, unless the right is clearly conferred by statute. Section 96
of the Code gives appeal right to litigant to appeal from an original decree. Section 100 gives him
appeal right to appeal from an appellate decree in certain cases. Section 109 gives him right to
appeal to the Supreme Court in certain cases. Section 104 gives him right to appeal from orders as
distinguished from decrees.

Section 96 of Code of Civil Procedure

Appeal from Original decrees 3

Appeal is provided under Section 96 of the CPC, which says that except as provided in CPC or any
other law for timbering in force, an appeal shall lie from any decree passed by court exercising
Original Jurisdiction to appeal Court authorized to hear the appeal from the decision of the Court i.e.

Section 96 makes it clear that no appeal lies from appeal decree passed by the Court with the
consent of the parties. However, an appeal may lie fro original decrees which is passed exparte i.e.
without hearing of the parties. No appeal lies against the decree passed by small cause court, if the
value of the subject-matter does not exceed Rs. 10,0004 except on appeal question of law.
Ordinarily, only appeal party to the suit adversely affected by appeal decree or any of his
representatives in interest may file an appeal. However, appeal person who is not appeal party to
the decree or order may prefer an appeal with leave of the court, if he is bound or otherwise
prejudicially affected by such decree or odder, as in such an eventuality he may be said to be an
“aggrieved person.”5

Right To Appeal: A Statutory And Substantive Right

Right to appeal is statutory and substantive right. It is not merely appeal procedural right. Statutory
right means must be conferred by statute unless it provides there won’t be any right to appeal.
While right to institute a suit is not conferred by law. The right is inherent. But right to appeal has to
be conferred by appeal statute. Where statute provides for right to appeal, it may constitute appeal
machinery where shall the appeal lie. While the same isn’t true for right to sue. A civil suit has to be
filed subject to condition of jurisdiction. An appeal is appeal substantive right. Right to appeal can’t
be taken retros0pectively because general rule of specific interpretation. Substantive law operates
prospectively unless an express statute provides so.

When does right to appeal to appeal accrues to any person?

As soon as judgment is pronounced against party, right to appeal arises. Right to appeal doesn’t arise
when adverse decision is given, but on the day suit is instituted i.e. proceedings commenced, right to
appeal get conferred. Thus, it can be said the Right to appeal is appeal substantive right vested in
parties from the date suit instituted. The right to appeal can be waived by a party under a legal and
valid agreement, and if a party has accepted the benefits under the decree, he is stopped from
challenging its legality. The right to appeal also stands destroyed if the court to which appeal lies is
abolished altogether without any forum being substituted in its place.

The Court hearing the appeal, has the power to implead a person as respondent who has not been
so impleaded where it appears to the court that he may be a person and interested in the result of
the appeal. 6

Appeal from final decree when no appeal from preliminary decrees

In cases where preliminary and final decree are required to be passed, and if a party aggrieved by
preliminary decree does not prefer an appeal, he cannot be permitted to raise disputes about
correctness of such decree in any appeal against final decree.

An appeal is a constitution of proceedings. The appellate court can re-examine questions of fact and
law and May even re-appreciate evidence. The powers of the first appellate court are co-extensive
with those of the civil court of original jurisdiction. However, there may be certain self-imposed
restraints in the exercise of such powers. However they are discretionary and Do not fetter
jurisdiction of the courts. Unlike revision or review where limited grounds of interference are
available, the appellate proceedings offer a much wider scope in deciding about correctness of the
judgments of the courts below. First appeal may be filed on a question of fact or on a question of
law or on a mixed question of fact and law may arise in a case.7 In determining the appellate forum,
the value of the subject matter of the suit is material and not the claim in appeal.8

The judgment of the appellate court should state the points for determination, the decision thereon,
the reasons fro the decision, and the relief to which the appellant is entitled. The appellate court
should state its own reasons; thus it is not enough to say in the judgment, “I concur with the
decision of the Munsiff has given on each point.’ If this is done, the judgment will be set aside by the
High court in second appeal. After the judgment is pronounced, the decree will be drawn up.

Who can appeal?

1. Any party to the suit, who is adversely affected by the decree or the transferee of interest of such
party has been adversely affected by the decree provided his name was entered into record of suit.

2. An auction purchaser from an order in execution of a decree to set aside the same on the grounds
of fraud.

3. Any person who is bound by the decree and decree would operate res judicata against him.

Kaleidoscope India Pvt. Ltd. v. Phoolan Devi AIR 1995 Delhi 316

In this case, the Trial Court judge prohibited the exhibition of film both in India and abroad. Session
Judge permitted the exhibition of film in abroad. Subsequently, a party who moved in appeal did not
have locus standi. It was reversed by division bench saying that its not proper on the part of judge as
he entertained the suit on which party has no locus standi.9

Leading Case Law on Right to Appeal and Doctrine of Merger

1. Sadhu Singh v. Dharam Dev 1981 SCC 510

In this case, in Punjab there used to appeal right of preemption and in Muslim Personal Law, if
appeal person wants to sell immovable property, he must ask the person who have adjoining
property.

In 1973, an Act was passed, Punjab Premption Repeal Act, 1973 by which premptory right was
abolished. Provision: “No Court shall pass appeal decree in any preemption suit.” In this case, decree
has already been passed by Court of Original jurisdiction and matter was pending in appeal.

The issue before the Court was that: Whether the appellate Court can pass appeal decree?

It was held that the lower Courts decree would get merged into appellate Courts decree. Where
decree is drawn on appellate order and once act passed, no premptory right. In this proceeding the
appellate Court is deprived of power to pass appeal decree.

Conflicting situation when legislation is passed - There may be two situations:

1. A right to appeal exist on the date of institution of suit and subsequent law passed taking right to
appeal.

2. No right to appeal on the date of institution of suit but subsequently law passed granting right to
appeal.

2. State of Bombay v. Supreme General Films and Exchange AIR 1960 SC 980
In this case it was held that right to appeal cannot be taken away, if available on the date of
institution of suit and subsequently law passed taking away right to appeal.

3. Delhi Cloth & General Mills v. I T Commissioner AIR 1927 PC 242

Where right to appeal is created subsequently shall not be available to a litigant if the suit was
instituted prior to such creation.

4. Veeraya v. Subbia Choudhry AIR 1957 SC 540

Right to appeal get vested on the date suit is instituted. A new right to appeal gets created can’t be
availed by the parties to a proceeding which commenced earlier during the creation of new rights.

Case Laws on Doctrine of Merger

Ram Chandra Abhyankar v. Krishnaji Dalladarya AIR 1970 SC 1

In this case Supreme Court laid down three conditions for the application of Doctrine of Merger:

1. the supereior jurisdiction should be appeallte or revisional in nature

2. jurisdiction should have been excercised after the issuance of notice

3. After a full hearing in presence of both the parties i.e. on lu the part where the superior court’s
order goes into detail of issue, to that extent only inferior court’s order gets merged.

It will depend on the nature of jurisdiction exercised, the content and subject matter of challenged
capable of being laid down. The superior court should be capable of being reversal or modifying or
affirming the order put in issue before it. In writ jurisdiction, the jurisdiction is not appellate or
revisional but it is a collateral challenged on the principle of natural justice.

5. Kuna Ahymed v. State of Kerala AIR 2000 SC 2608

Kerala legislation passed the Act, kereala Private Forest Act, 1971 whereby appeal forest tribunal
was constituted. It was to determine whether any private forest is to be vested in government or
not? On behalf of the [petitioners, they raised appeal dispute about 1020 acres of forest land. The
tribunal held in favour of petitioners.

Kerala Government appeal against the decision of Forest Tribunal before Kerala High Court. The
Kerala High Court dismissed the appeal by detailed order. No provision for further appeal in the act,
so Kerala Government filed appeal SLP under article 136 before the a SC, which was dismissed.
Subsequently the Act was amended and appeal new Section 8c was introduced providing for review
of order of High Court. Consequently appeal revision petition was filed before Kerala High Court for
review its earlier order in appeal.
Appeal preliminary decree was taken on behalf the petitioner that Kerala High Courts order get
merged with Supreme Court’s order whereby SC had dismissed the SLP on merits i.e. there doesn’t
exist an order of High Court which can be reviewed.

This objection was dismissed by Kerala High Court. Appellant went to Supreme Court against the
preliminary decree.

The issue before the Court was that- where aSLP is filed and dismissed, whether there is appeal
ground for the application of Doctrine of Merger?

Justice Lahoti. Observed in detail: What the stage of SLP?

When “slp” is heard by SC, it is only leave for admission for appeal. The court doesn’t exercise
appellate jurisdiction, but just discretionary jurisdiction to admit or deny the appeal.

"Where the SLP is dismissed by appeal brief or cryptic order or reasoned order must be taken into
consideration. Therefore, while dismissing SLP, Supreme Court is giving appeal detailed judgment
and pronouncing certain principles of law, those provisions are binding on lower court by virtue of
Article 141. But, where dismissal SLP is appeal brief order, then there is no law.”

Conclusion

The expression appeal has not been defined in the Code of Civil Procedure 1908. It is an application
or petition to appeal higher Court for are consideration of the decision of appeal lower court. It is
appeal proceeding for review to be carried out by appeal higher authority of appeal decision given
by appeal lower one. In appeal is appeal creature of statute and right to appeal is neither an
inherent nor natural right.

Appeal person aggrieved by appeal decree is not entitled as or right to appeal from decree. The right
to appeal must be given by statute. Section 9 confers on appeal litigant, independently of any
statute, appeal right to institute appeal suit of civil nature in appeal court of law. So he has appeal
right to apply for execution of appeal decree passed in his favour, but he has no right to appeal from
appeal decree or order made against him, unless the right is clearly conferred by statute. Section 96
of the Code gives appeal right to litigant to appeal from an original decree. Section 100 gives him
appeal right to appeal from an appellate decree in certain cases. Section 109 gives him right to
appeal to the Supreme Court in certain cases. Section 104 gives him right to appeal from orders as
distinguished from decrees.
As soon as judgment is pronounced against party, right to appeal arises. Right to appeal doesn’t arise
when adverse decision is given, but on the day suit is instituted i.e. proceedings commenced, right to
appeal get conferred. Thus, it can be said the Right to appeal is appeal substantive right vested in
parties from the date suit instituted.

End Notes

1 Chamber’Section 20th Century Dictionary, 1997, property 59

2 Sita Ram V. State of U.P. AIR 1979 SC 745

3 Civil Procedure Code, Bare Act, Section 69

4 Section 96(4), Code pf Civil Procedure 1908(as amended by the Amendment Act 1999 wef 1 July
2002).

5 State of Punjab v. Amar Singh AIR 1974 SC 994

6 Order XLI, right to appeal 20(1), Code of Civil Procedure 1908.

7 Manik Chandra Nandy v. Debdas nandy & Others AIR 1986 SC 446

8 Gopal Krishna v. Meenakshi AIR 1967 SC 155

9 V.R.Manohar and W.W.Chitley, The AIR Manual, pg. No. 192