69Reference when compulsory

¹[69. Reference when compulsory.--(1) If two or more judges of the Small Cause Court sit together in any suit, or in any proceeding under Chapter VII of this Act, and differ in their opinion as to any question of law or usage having the force of law or the construction of a document, which construction may affect the merits, or

if in any suit or in any such proceeding, in which the amount or value of the subject-matter exceeds five hundred rupees, any such question arises upon which the Court entertains reasonable doubt, and either party so requires,

the Small Cause Court shall draw up a statement of the facts of the case and the point on which there is a difference of opinion or on which doubt is entertained, and refer such statement with its own opinion on the point for the opinion of the High Court; and the provisions of sections 619 to 621 of the ²Code of Civil Procedure (14 of 1882), shall, so far as they are applicable, be deemed to apply as if such reference had been made under section 617 of the said Code.

(2) When the Small Cause Court refers any question for the opinion of the High Court as provided in sub-section (1), it shall either reserve judgment or give judgment contingent upon such opinion.]