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Interpretation of judgment contents by a Court of Small Causes under the Provincial Small Cause Courts Act. Analysis: The judgment in question pertains to a case involving the determination of various points related to a suit for a promissory note. The Court of Small Causes framed specific points for decision, including consideration of the promissory note, assignment, presentation to the debtor, the status of the plaintiff as a money lender, and the relief to be granted. The judgment delivered by the Small Cause Court judge provided concise decisions on each point, favoring either the plaintiff or the defendant based on the evidence presented. The petitioner, through a revision petition under Section 25 of the Provincial Small Cause Courts Act, challenged the validity of the judgment, arguing that it did not comply with the legal requirements. The petitioner contended that the judgment lacked proper reasoning and failed to meet the standards of a lawful judgment as mandated by the Act and the Code of Civil Procedure. The Court delved into the definition of "judgment" as per Section 2(9) of the Code of Civil Procedure, emphasizing that a judgment must include a statement by the judge of the grounds on which a decree or order is based. It highlighted Order 20, Rule 4 of the Code, which states that a judgment of a Court of Small Causes need only contain the points for determination and the decisions thereon. However, the Court clarified that even in such concise judgments, there must be a statement of the grounds on which the decisions are made to ensure clarity and compliance with the law. The Court emphasized the importance of providing intelligible judgments, especially in cases involving mixed questions of law and fact. It stressed that a judge of the Small Cause Court must articulate at least some reasoning behind the findings to enable higher courts, like the High Court in a revisional jurisdiction, to assess the legality and correctness of the judgment. The lack of reasoning in the judgment under review led the Court to conclude that it did not meet the legal standards of a valid judgment. Ultimately, the Court accepted the revision petition, set aside the original judgment, and directed the case to be reheard and decided by the Small Cause Court judge in accordance with the law. The decision was made in the absence of the respondents, who did not contest the petition. No costs were awarded due to the non-appearance of the respondents. In summary, the judgment highlighted the necessity for Small Cause Courts to provide reasoned and intelligible judgments, even in cases where brief statements suffice. Failure to do so may render the judgment legally inadequate and subject to revision by higher courts to ensure compliance with the law.
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