IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO.6249 OF 2009 (Arising out of S.L.P. (C) No.23723 of 2008)

Devarasu                     ...Appellant(s)

Versus

Veerasekaran & Anr.                    ...Respondent(s)

O  R  D  E  R

Leave granted.

The suit filed by the appellant for declaration of  

title and permanent injunction was decreed by the trial  

Court vide judgment dated 31.1.1995.  The appeal preferred  

by  the  respondents  was  dismissed  by  District  Judge,  

Villupuram but the second appeal filed by them has been  

allowed  by  the  High  Court  and  suit  of  the  plaintiff-

appellant dismissed.  Hence, this appeal by special leave.

We have heard learned counsel for the parties and  

scrutinized  the records.   In  our opinion,  the impugned  

judgment is liable to be set aside only on the ground of  

violation of Section 100 of the Code of Civil Procedure.  

Sub-section(1)  of Section  100 lays  down that  an appeal  

shall lie to the High Court from every decree passed in  

appeal by any court subordinate to the High Court, if the  

High  Court  is  satisfied  that  the  case  involves  a  

substantial question of law. Sub-section(4) lays down that  

where  the  High  Court  is  satisfied  that  a  substantial  

question  of  law  is  involved  in  any  case,  it  shall  

formulate  that  question.  In terms of sub-section 5, the

...2/-

- 2 -  

appeal  is  required  to  be  heard  on  the  question  so  

formulated  and respondent  at liberty  to argue  that the  

case  does  not  involve  such  question.   Proviso  to  sub-

section(5)  empowers  the  High  Court,  for  reasons  to  be  

recorded,  to  hear  the  appeal  on  any  other  substantial  

question  of  law  which  may  not  have  been  formulated  in  

terms  of  sub-section(4).   In  the  present  case,  no  

substantial question of law was framed by the High Court  

till  the  commencement  of  hearing.   The  substantial  

question enumerated in para 8 of the impugned judgment was  

formulated only during the course of argument.  This is  

legally impermissible.  Unless the question is formulated  

and the respondent is put to notice in relation to such  

question, he/she is deprived of the opportunity to make  

submissions with reference to the substantial question of  

law formulated by the High Court and also show that the  

case does not involve such question.

Accordingly,  the  appeal  is  allowed,  impugned  

judgment is set aside and the matter is remitted to the  

High Court.  Now, the High Court shall consider whether  

any  substantial  question  of  law  arises  in  the  second  

appeal or not.  If it comes to the conclusion that the  

same  arises,  in  that  eventuality,  the  same  shall  be  

formulated.   Thereafter,  the appeal  shall be  heard and  

disposed  of  in  accordance  with  law  after  giving  

opportunity of hearing to the parties.

......................J.            [B.N. AGRAWAL]

......................J.            [G.S. SINGHVI]

New Delhi, September 14, 2009.