(1.) THIS is an appeal from a judgment and order of the High Court of Judicature at Fort William in Bengal, in its civil appellate jurisdiction, dated April 11, 1938, which allowed in part the appeal of the present respondent from the judgment and order of the said High Court, in its original jurisdiction, made by Panckridge J. on July 22, 1937.
(2.) THE respondent raises a preliminary point as to the jurisdiction of this Board to entertain this appeal in view of the provisions of Section 205 of the Government of India Act, 1935, which provides as follows : 205.- (1) An appeal shall lie to the Federal Court from, any judgment, decree-or final order of a High Court in British India, if the High Court certifies that the case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of this Art or any Order in Council made thereunder, and it shall be the duty of every High Court in British India to consider in every case whether or not any such question is. involved and of its own motion to give or to withhold a certificate accordingly. . (2) Where such a certificate is given, any party in the case may appeal to the Federal Court on the ground that any such question as aforesaid has been wrongly decided, and on any ground on which that party could have appealed without special leave to His Majesty in Council if no such certificate had been given,. and, with the leave of the Federal Court, on any other ground, and no direct appeal shall lie to His Majesty in Council, either with or without special leave. This Section imposes on the High Court the duty of considering and determining in every case, as part of its judgment, decree or final order, the giving or withholding of the certificate. On such determination the jurisdiction to entertain an appeal from such judgment, decree or final order depends, and, manifestly, such determination, whether it involves the granting or withholding of a certificate, should be recorded, not only for the information of the parties, but-a matter of equal importance-also for the certification of this Board and the Federal Court as to their jurisdicion to entertain an appeal. No such record appears in the present case, nor is there anything to suggest that the matter was considered by the High Court bench which delivered the judgment and order of April 11, 1938. THE same is true of the High Court bench which certified this case as a fit one for appeal to His Majesty in Council on June 15, 1938, and which was differently constituted. But, as their Lordships have already indicated, the statutory duty fell to be discharged by the bench which delivered the judgment and order of April 11, 1938.
(3.) SECTION 205 of the Government of India Act is not referred to in the judgment. Counsel for-the appellants suggested that the Court may have considered this SECTION and decided to withhold a certificate, though that decision is not expressed. The passages quoted above make this unlikely and in the absence of a certificate their Lordships think that the appeal should be dismissed with costs. If, however, the High Court should hereafter make an order withholding a certificate under SECTION 205, the appellants are to be at liberty to apply to His Majesty in Council to have the present appeal restored. Their Lordships will humbly advise His Majesty accordingly.