In the case of Balraj Taneja v. Sunil Madan, the Supreme Court noted that a ruling should be a self-contained document explaining the case's facts, the controversy the court attempted to resolve, and the method it did so. The decision should reflect the thought process that led the court to its decision and decree.

Contents of a Judgment (Order XX's Rule 4 of the 1908 Code of Civil Procedure):

Judgments from the Court of Small Causes must clearly state the problems to be handled and the conclusions reached. For other courts, judgments must include a concise summary of the case with an outline of the pleadings, the crucial aspects requiring attention, evaluations and fixes for each problem found, the ratio decidendi (justification for decisions made), and the relief given, outlining the compensation awarded to the winning party.

DECREE

A decree is any judgment that qualifies for an appeal under the same rules as an appeal against an order, or any order that dismisses a case for failure to appear. A decree is considered provisional when it requires further legal proceedings for a complete resolution and final when it completely resolves the lawsuit. A decree can be partially tentative and partially final simultaneously.

Requirements for a Decree:

To be considered a decree, there must be a formal pronouncement of judgment (adjudication), consideration of the litigation being heard by the court, a decision settling the parties' rights entangled in the conflict, and a decisive ruling that is the final word in relation to the court that rendered it.

Types of Decrees:

Preliminary decrees are issued when more actions are necessary to complete the lawsuit's resolution. Final decrees are issued when the litigation is completely resolved by adjudication, with no more issues to be raised. A decree can be partially preliminary and partially final, such as in cases involving land possession and mesne profits, where the court may first grant possession (final decree) and concurrently mandate an investigation into mesne profits (preliminary decree).

Contents of a Decree:

A decree must include the suit number, details of the parties, claims or remedy, cost allocation, judgment pronouncement date, and the judge's signature.

Formation of a Decree:

According to Rule 6A of Order XX of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, a decree must be duly prepared within 15 days after the judgment is issued. It is not necessary to produce a copy of the decree to commence or prefer an appeal if one is not prepared within the allotted 15 days following the verdict.

Difference Between Judgment and Decree

• A judgment is formulated based on factual evidence and precedes the decree. It encompasses the case's particulars, the issues in contention, the evidence presented by both parties, and the conclusions drawn from such evidence and arguments. The term "judgment" as defined in Section 2(9) of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, does not explicitly include the word 'formal.' Judgments do not have distinct classifications. While a judgment may result in the issuance of either a preliminary decree, a final decree, or stand alone as an order, the judgment itself remains conclusive. A judgment leads to the final resolution of the lawsuit once the decree is drafted.

• A decree is based on a judgment and invariably follows it. It encapsulates the resolution of the legal dispute and definitively settles the rights of the parties concerning the matters contested in the case. The definition of the term "decree" in Section 2(2) of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, explicitly includes the term 'formal.' Decrees are classified into three types: preliminary, final, or a combination of both preliminary and final. Once a decree is issued, the case is considered concluded, as the court has conclusively established the rights of the involved parties.