Appellate Jurisdiction of the High Court
19. The appellate criminal jurisdiction of the High Court shall consist of —
(a)
the hearing of appeals from District Courts or Magistrates’ Courts before one or more Judges according to the provisions of the law for the time being in force relating to criminal procedure; and
(b)
the hearing of points of law reserved by special cases submitted by a District Court or Magistrate’s Court before one or more Judges according to the provisions of the law for the time being in force relating to criminal procedure.
20. The appellate civil jurisdiction of the High Court shall consist of —
(a)
the hearing of appeals from District Courts;
(b)
the hearing of appeals from District Courts and Magistrates’ Courts when exercising jurisdiction of a quasi-criminal or civil nature; and
(c)
the hearing of appeals from other tribunals as may from time to time be prescribed by any written law.
21.
—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act or any other written law, an appeal shall lie to the High Court from a decision of a District Court or Magistrate’s Court in any suit or action for the recovery of immovable property or in any civil cause or matter where the amount in dispute or the value of the subject-matter exceeds $50,000 or such other amount as may be specified by an order made under subsection (3) or with the leave of a District Court, a Magistrate’s Court or the High Court if under that amount.
[4/86; 16/93; 43/98]
(2) Such appeals may be heard before one Judge provided that the Judge, if he thinks fit, may reserve any appeal for the decision of a court consisting of 3 Judges, and in such case the appeal shall be decided in accordance with the opinion of the majority of the Judges composing the High Court.
(3) The President may, after consulting the Chief Justice, by order published in the Gazette vary the amount mentioned in subsection (1).
[43/98]