In Brief
Surat Singh purchased land that was the subject of ongoing litigation and became a party respondent to a second appeal in the High Court. The High Court allowed the second appeal without hearing him and dismissed the suit, but framed the substantial question of law for the first time in its final judgment paragraph. The Supreme Court held that the High Court committed a jurisdictional error by failing to comply with mandatory procedures under Section 100 of the CPC. The substantial question of law must be framed at the admission stage under Section 100(4), not in the final judgment, to give respondents proper notice and opportunity to object. The Court set aside the judgment and remanded the case for the High Court to redecide following correct procedure.
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