Santosh Hazari vs Purushottam Tiwari (Dead) By Lrs on 8 February, 2001
4. The appellate court has jurisdiction to reverse or
affirm the findings of the trial court. The first appeal is
a valuable right of the parties and unless restricted by
law, the whole case is therein open for rehearing both
on questions of fact and law. The judgment of the
appellate court must, therefore, reflect its conscious
application of mind and record findings supported by
reasons, on all the issues arising along with the
contentions put forth, and pressed by the parties for
decision of the appellate court. Sitting as a court of
first appeal, it was the duty of the High Court to deal
with all the issues and the evidence led by the parties
before recording its findings. The first appeal is a
valuable right and the parties have a right to be heard
both on questions of law and on facts and the
judgment in the first appeal must address itself to all
the issues of law and fact and decide it by giving
reasons in support of the findings. (Vide Santosh
Hazari v. Purushottam Tiwari (2001) 3 SCC 179, SCC
p. 188, para 15 and Madhukar v. Sangram (2001) 4
SCC 756, SCC p. 758, para 5.)