Summons to witness
Full Text
The provisions in sections 27, 28 and 29 shall apply to summonses to give evidence or to produce documents or other material objects.
Plain English Summary
Section 31 extends the statutory rules governing summons to defendants (Sections 27, 28, and 29) mutatis mutandis to summonses issued to witnesses for giving oral evidence or producing documents and material objects.
Key Legal Elements
- Mutatis Mutandis Extension: Summons rules under Sections 27, 28, and 29 apply equally to witness summonses.
- Dual Evidentiary Scope: Governs summonses to give oral testimony and subpoenas to produce documents or material objects.
- Inter-State Enforceability: Enables summoning witnesses across State boundaries through reciprocal judicial mechanisms (Sec 28).
- Procedural Harmony: Read in tandem with Order XVI (witness attendance and expenses).
Practical Note
Application of service rules to witness subpoenas: (1) Inter-State Witness Subpoenas: By applying Section 28, courts can summon witnesses or document custodians across state lines via the reciprocal court network or speed post. (2) Diet Money & Traveling Expenses (Order XVI Rule 2): Summons under Section 31 requires prior deposit of witness expenses (diet money/batta) into court before process issues. (3) Subpoena Duces Tecum vs. Testificandum: Applies equally whether a witness is called solely to produce records (e.g. bank managers, nodal officers) or testify in the witness box. (4) Sanctions: Non-attendance post-service triggers warrants, property attachment, and fines under Section 32 and Order XVI Rules 10–12.
हिंदी पाठ
धारा 27, 28 और 29 के उपबंध साक्ष्य देने या दस्तावेज या अन्य भौतिक वस्तुएं पेश करने के लिए निकाले गए समनों को लागू होंगे।