(1) If before or on the hearing of an appeal under section 217 of the City of Bombay Municipal Act, 1888, any question of law or usage having the force of law, or the construction of a document, which construction may affect the merits, arises, on which the Chief Judge of the Court of Small Causes of Bombay entertains reasonable doubt, the Chief Judge may, either of his own motion or on the application of either or any of the parties, draw up a statement of the facts of the case and the point on which doubt is entertained, and refer the statement, with his own opinion on the point, for the decision of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay.
    (2) When a reference is made to the High Court under sub-section (1), the provisions of sections 618 to 621, both inclusive, of the Code of Civil Procedure (XIV of 1882) shall, so far as they can be made applicable, apply to the Chief Judge of the Court of Small Causes and to the High Court, respectively.