Supreme Court Orders Certified Copy for All Statutory Appeals – Procedural Mandate Clarified

The Supreme Court of India, in a recent hearing on a civil appeal by Central Bank of India against a decision of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal , reiterated a crucial procedural requirement: a statutory appeal must be filed with a certified copy of the impugned judgment . The bench, comprising Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice K. Vinod Chandran , delivered the observation on 27 February 2026 during Civil Appeal D.No. 57050 of 2025. Key Developments The appellant’s request for exemption from submitting a certified copy was rejected. A delay of 102 days in re‑filing the appeal was noted, highlighting the importance of adhering to the limitation period . The Court cited Order XIX Rule 40 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 as the governing provision. A circular issued the next day clarified that no statutory appeal will be entertained without the required certified copy of the judgment. Important Facts • Case name: Central Bank of India v. Bijendra Kumar Jha & Others. • Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (SC) 273. • Directive: All statutory appeals must be accompanied by a certified copy of the judgment under challenge, as per Order XIX Rule 40 read with Rule 3(2) of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013. • Registry instruction: Scrutinise appeals for both document compliance and timeliness. UPSC Relevance The ruling underscores the procedural rigour that underpins India’s judicial system, a frequent topic in GS2: Polity . Understanding the hierarchy of courts, the role of specialized tribunals like the NCLAT , and the procedural statutes governing appeals is essential for questions on judicial reforms and access to justice. Way Forward Legal practitioners must ensure that a certified copy of the impugned judgment is obtained before filing any statutory appeal. Courts and registries should develop check‑lists to verify compliance with Order XIX Rule 40 at the filing stage, reducing procedural delays. Students preparing for UPSC should memorise key procedural provisions such as Order XIX Rule 40 and the concept of the limitation period , as they frequently appear in essay and answer‑writing questions.