Definitions of “Foreign State” and “Rulers”
Full Text
(1) In this Part,—
(a) “foreign State” means any State outside India which has been recognised by the Central Government; and
(b) “Ruler”, in relation to a foreign State, means the person who is for the time being recognized by the Central Government to be the head of that State.
(2) Every Court shall take judicial notice of the fact—
(a) that a State has or has not been recognized by the Central Government;
(b) that a person has or has not been recognized by the Central Government to be the head of a State.
Plain English Summary
Section 87A defines 'foreign State' and 'Ruler' strictly based on diplomatic recognition by the Central Government, and mandates that civil courts take mandatory judicial notice of sovereign and head-of-state recognition status without requiring formal evidence.
Key Legal Elements
- Definition of Foreign State: Any territory/state outside India officially recognized by the Central Government.
- Definition of Ruler: The individual recognized for the time being by the Central Government as head of that State.
- Mandatory Judicial Notice: Courts must take judicial notice under sub-section (2) regarding sovereign recognition.
- Executive Conclusiveness: Sovereign status is determined exclusively by MEA diplomatic recognition rather than judicial inquiry.
Practical Note
Executive Recognition & Judicial Notice under Indian Evidence Act: (1) Conclusive Diplomatic Recognition: Whether a foreign entity is a sovereign state or whether an individual is its legitimate head of state is exclusively an executive prerogative of the Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs). Courts cannot independently adjudicate sovereign legitimacy. (2) Judicial Notice (Sec 57 IEA / Sec 52 BSA): Under sub-section (2), courts take judicial notice of recognition; parties do not have to lead oral or documentary evidence, and the court may refer to official notifications, MEA gazettes, or request an MEA certificate. (3) Unrecognized Entities: Entities or de facto authorities not recognized by the Central Government (e.g. rebel groups, unrecognized breakaway republics) cannot claim sovereign immunity under Section 86 or sue under Section 84.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) इस भाग में,—
(क) “विदेशी राज्य” से भारत के बाहर का ऐसा कोई राज्य अभिप्रेत है जिसे केंद्रीय सरकार द्वारा मान्यता दी गई है; और
(ख) विदेशी राज्य के संबंध में “शासक” से वह व्यक्ति अभिप्रेत है जिसे उस राज्य का प्रधान होने के रूप में तत्समय केंद्रीय सरकार द्वारा मान्यता दी गई है।
(2) प्रत्येक न्यायालय इस तथ्य की न्यायिक अवेक्षा (Judicial notice) लेगा—
(क) कि कोई राज्य केंद्रीय सरकार द्वारा मान्यताप्राप्त है या नहीं;
(ख) कि कोई व्यक्ति केंद्रीय सरकार द्वारा किसी राज्य का प्रधान होने के रूप में मान्यताप्राप्त है या नहीं।