Cases in which statement of relevant fact by person who is dead or cannot be found, etc., is relevant
Full Text
Statements, written or verbal, of relevant facts made by a person who is dead, or who cannot be found, or who has become incapable of giving evidence, or whose attendance cannot be procured without an amount of delay or expense which under the circumstances of the case appears to the Court unreasonable, are themselves relevant facts in the following cases, namely:—
(a) Dying Declaration: When the statement relates to the cause of his death or circumstances of the transaction resulting in death.
(b) Course of Business: Entries in business books, professional diaries, or signed acknowledgments of receipts.
(c) Against Interest: Statements against the pecuniary or proprietary interest of the maker, or which expose them to prosecution.
(d) Public Right/Custom: Opinions on public rights or customs made before any controversy.
(e) Family Relationship: Statements about blood, marriage, or adoption by someone with special knowledge.
(f) Wills/Deeds: Statements in family pedigrees, tombstones, or family portraits.
(g) Related Documents: Statements in deeds or wills relating to transactions under section 11(a).
(h) Group Feelings: Statements by multiple persons expressing relevant feelings or impressions.
Illustrations (Summary of a-n):
(a) Murder/Rape victim's statement on cause of death is relevant.
(b-c) Entries in a deceased surgeon's or solicitor's diary are relevant.
(d-e) Business letters and agent's rent receipts are relevant.
(f) Clergyman's statement on a marriage is relevant.
(g) Date on a letter by a missing person is relevant.
(h-j) Captain's protest, headman's statement on public ways, and market price logs are relevant.
(k-m) Father's statement or diary entry about a child's birth/marriage is relevant.
(n) Crowd's remarks on a caricature in a libel suit are relevant.
Plain English Summary
Covers exceptions to the hearsay rule, including dying declarations and business records.
Key Legal Elements
- Person unavailable (dead/missing/incapable)
- Dying Declaration
- Ordinary course of business
- Statement against interest
- Relationship records
- Public rights/customs
Practical Note
Section 26 is the lifeblood of evidence when witnesses are unavailable. Clause (a) is the most powerful (Dying Declaration). Unlike English law, in India, a dying declaration is valid even if the person was not in immediate expectation of death at the time of making it.
हिंदी पाठ
उन व्यक्तियों के कथन जो मर गए हैं, मिल नहीं सकते या साक्ष्य देने में असमर्थ हैं, निम्नलिखित स्थितियों में सुसंगत हैं:
(क) मृत्युकालिक कथन: मृत्यु के कारण या परिस्थितियों के बारे में।
(ख) कारोबार का अनुक्रम: डायरी, बहीखाता या रसीद में प्रविष्टियाँ।
(ग) हित के विरुद्ध: आर्थिक या कानूनी नुकसान पहुँचाने वाले बयान।
(घ) लोक अधिकार: सार्वजनिक अधिकारों या रीति-रिवाजों पर राय।
(ङ) पारिवारिक संबंध: जन्म, विवाह या गोद लेने के बारे में विशेष ज्ञान रखने वाले का बयान।
(च) वसीयत/वंशावली: वसीयत, कब्र के पत्थर या पारिवारिक चित्रों पर अंकित जानकारी।
दृष्टांत: मृतक का मृत्यु पूर्व बयान, डॉक्टर की प्रसूति डायरी, वकील का पेशेवर रिकॉर्ड, पिता द्वारा संतान के जन्म की घोषणा, और सार्वजनिक मार्ग पर ग्राम प्रधान का बयान—ये सभी सुसंगत साक्ष्य हैं।