(1) A court trying such suit or proceeding as is referred to in section 16 shall be assisted by four assessors and the court shall :
decide such suit or proceeding after obtaining in such manner as the High Court may, by rule, direct, the opinion of each of the assessors separately about the fact in issue:
Provided that where the court disagrees with the opinion of any assessor, it shall record its reasons therefor and, decide the suit or Appeal* from subordinate judges and munsiffa Power to invest subordinate judges and munsiffs with small cause court jurisdiction.
Certain decisions to be according to personal law or custom.
Procedure in cases Involving custom or personal law.
666 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAOBDINAIIY [PART l\ List of Assessors how to b« summoned and chosen.
proceeding in accordance with its own opinion about the fact in issue.
(2) Nothing in this section shall apply to the trial of an appeal or any proceeding connected therewith.