This case has been cited 1 times or more.
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2009-03-13 |
CARPIO, J. |
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| We agree with petitioners. Courts of justice have no jurisdiction or power to decide a question not in issue.[16] It is elementary that a judgment must conform to, and be supported by, both the pleadings and the evidence, and must be in accordance with the theory of the action on which the pleadings are framed and the case was tried.[17] The courts, in rendering decisions, ought to limit themselves to the issues presented by the parties in their pleadings.[18] A judgment that goes outside of the issues and purports to adjudicate something on which the court did not hear the parties is not only irregular but also extra-judicial and invalid.[19] The rule rests on the fundamental tenets of fair play.[20] | |||||