Supreme Court warns courts against issuing surprise directions beyond litigants’ pleadings

The Supreme Court cautioned lower courts against issuing directions that extend beyond the pleadings of the parties. The Bench stressed that judicial discipline requires adherence to issues framed in litigation, and surprise directions could compromise natural justice. The judgment reinforces principles of fair trial, predictability, and limitation of judicial discretion within the adversarial system. This ruling guides trial and appellate courts on the scope of relief they can grant, ensuring litigants are not prejudiced by unanticipated judicial orders.