Statutory Appeal cannot be entertained without Certified Copy, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has made it clear that statutory appeals will not be entertained unless accompanied by a certified copy of the challenged judgment, reinforcing strict compliance with procedural rules. The ruling came while hearing an appeal by Central Bank of India against a decision of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, with the Court also flagging lapses in filing and delays that impact judicial efficiency.

The matter arose from a civil appeal where the appellant sought exemption from filing a certified copy of the impugned judgment, despite a significant delay in re-filing. The bench found that the application was silent on whether any effort had been made to obtain the certified copy, raising concerns over procedural diligence. The case brought into focus recurring issues of incomplete filings and delayed compliance in statutory appeals, prompting the Court to examine the governing framework under the Supreme Court Rules, 2013.

Emphasising strict adherence to procedural mandates, the bench underscored that filing requirements are not mere formalities but essential to maintain judicial discipline. It categorically observed that “a statutory appeal cannot be entertained without a certified copy of the judgment under challenge,” and directed the registry to be vigilant while scrutinising such appeals, particularly in cases involving delay.

Acting on these observations, the Court’s registry has now issued a formal circular mandating that all statutory appeals must be accompanied by certified copies for further processing.

Case Title: Central Bank of India Vs. Bijendra Kumar Jha & Ors.

Case No.: Civil Appeal Diary No. 57050/2025

Coram: Hon'ble Mr. Justice Sanjay Kumar, Hon'ble Mr. Justice K. Vinod Chandran

Advocate for the Petitioner: S.G. Tushar Mehta, AOR Brijesh Kumar Tamber, Adv. Vinay Singh Bist, Adv. Prateek Kushwaha, Adv. Arani Mukherjee, Adv. Yahu Rustagi, Adv. Sahas Bhasin, 

Advocate for the Respondent: AOR Srishti Juneja, AOR Sneha Jaisingh, AOR Sahil Tagotra, Adv. Salonee Shukla, Adv. Ambar Bhushan, Adv. Hiral Gupta, Adv. Divyam Sharma, Adv. Chandrachur Bhattacharyya, Adv. Shreya Kasera,

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