Evidence as to matters in writing
Full Text
Any witness may be asked, while under examination, whether any contract, grant or other disposition of property, as to which he is giving evidence, was not contained in a document, and if he says that it was, or if he is about to make any statement as to the contents of any document, which, in the opinion of the Court, ought to be produced, the adverse party may object to such evidence being given until such document is produced, or until facts have been proved which entitle the party who called the witness to give secondary evidence of it.
Explanation: A witness may give oral evidence of statements made by other persons about the contents of documents if such statements are in themselves relevant facts.
Illustration:
The question is, whether A assaulted B. C deposes that he heard A say to D— “B wrote a letter accusing me of theft, and I will be revenged on him”. This statement is relevant, as showing A's motive for the assault, and evidence may be given of it, though no other evidence is given about the letter.
Plain English Summary
Allows the opposing party to block oral testimony regarding a document's contents until the document is produced, unless grounds for secondary evidence are established.
Key Legal Elements
- Applies when a witness begins testifying orally about matters that were officially recorded in a document.
- Grants the adverse party the right to object to oral testimony until the document itself is produced.
- Requires laying a proper foundation for secondary evidence before oral testimony about a document can continue.
- Permits oral hearsay regarding a document's contents only if the statement itself constitutes an independent relevant fact (e.g., motive or conduct).
Practical Note
This is a key objection weapon. If a witness on the stand says, 'We had a written agreement where the defendant agreed to pay...', you should immediately object: 'Objection, the agreement is in writing. Under Section 147, the oral statement is inadmissible until the document is produced or secondary evidence is formally cleared.' However, keep the Exception in mind: if the oral mention of a document is only to show motive (e.g., a threat referring to a letter), you cannot block it, as the letter's truth is not what is being proved, but rather the speaker's state of mind.
हिंदी पाठ
किसी भी साक्षी से, जब वह परीक्षा के अधीन हो, पूछा जा सकेगा कि क्या कोई संविदा, अनुदान या संपत्ति का अन्य व्ययन, जिसके बारे में वह साक्ष्य दे रहा है, किसी दस्तावेज में समाविष्ट नहीं था, और यदि वह कहता है कि वह था, या यदि वह किसी ऐसी दस्तावेज की अंतर्वस्तु के बारे में कोई कथन करने ही वाला है जिसके बारे में न्यायालय की राय में उसे पेश किया जाना चाहिए, तो विरोधी पक्षकार ऐसे साक्ष्य दिए जाने पर तब तक आपत्ति कर सकेगा जब तक कि वह दस्तावेज पेश न कर दी जाए, या जब तक कि ऐसे तथ्य साबित न कर दिए जाएं जो साक्षी को बुलाने वाले पक्षकार को उसका द्वितीयक साक्ष्य देने के लिए हकदार बनाते हैं।
स्पष्टीकरण: कोई साक्षी दस्तावेजों की अंतर्वस्तु के बारे में अन्य व्यक्तियों द्वारा किए गए कथनों का मौखिक साक्ष्य दे सकेगा यदि वे कथन स्वतः ही सुसंगत तथ्य हों।
दृष्टांत:
प्रश्न यह है कि क्या क ने ख पर हमला किया। ग अभिसाक्ष्य देता है कि उसने क को घ से यह कहते सुना था— “ख ने मेरे ऊपर चोरी का आरोप लगाते हुए एक पत्र लिखा था, और मैं उससे इसका बदला लूंगा।” यह कथन क के हमले के हेतु (motive) को दर्शाने के रूप में सुसंगत है, और इसका साक्ष्य दिया जा सकेगा, भले ही उस पत्र के बारे में कोई अन्य साक्ष्य न दिया गया हो।