Inspection (Commercial Courts)
Full Text
[Commercial Courts Regime — Order XI Rule 3]
(1) All parties shall complete inspection of all documents disclosed within thirty days of the date of filing of the written statement or written statement to the counterclaim, whichever is later. The Court may extend this time limit upon application at its discretion, but not beyond thirty days in any event.
(2) Any party to the proceedings may seek directions from the Court, at any stage of the proceedings, for inspection or production of documents by the other party, of which inspection has been refused by such party or documents have not been produced despite issuance of a notice to produce.
(3) Order in such application shall be disposed of within thirty days of filing such application, including filing replies and rejoinders (if permitted by Court) and hearing.
(4) If the above application is allowed, inspection and copies thereof shall be furnished to the party seeking it, within five days of such order.
(5) No party shall be permitted to rely on a document, which it had failed to disclose or of which inspection has not been given, save and except with leave of Court.
(6) The Court may impose exemplary costs against a defaulting party, who wilfully or negligently failed to disclose all documents pertaining to a suit or essential for a decision therein and which are in their power, possession, control or custody or where a Court holds that inspection or copies of any documents had been wrongfully or unreasonably withheld or refused.
Plain English Summary
Imposes a strict 30-day outer timeline (extendable by maximum 30 days) to complete inspection of all disclosed documents in commercial suits, barring reliance on uninspected documents and prescribing exemplary costs for wrongful withholding.
Key Legal Elements
- Inflexible 30 + 30 Day Ceiling: Sub-rule (1) caps maximum inspection window at 60 days total from Written Statement.
- 30-Day Disposal of Inspection Applications: Sub-rule (3) mandates complete adjudication of inspection disputes within 30 days.
- 5-Day Compliance Order: Furnishing copies and inspection within 5 days of court order.
- Evidentiary Forfeiture: Absolute bar under sub-rule (5) against relying on uninspected documents.
- Exemplary Costs Sanction: Sub-rule (6) penalizes deliberate or negligent non-disclosure.
Practical Note
Commercial Inspection Deadlines: The statutory wording 'not beyond thirty days in any event' means the court loses jurisdiction to grant a second extension. Advocates must issue inspection notices immediately upon receipt of the defense.
हिंदी पाठ
[वाणिज्यिक न्यायालय व्यवस्था — आदेश 11 नियम 3]
(1) सभी पक्षकार लिखित कथन अथवा प्रतिदावे के लिखित कथन (जो भी बाद में हो) के दाखिल किए जाने की तारीख से तीस दिन (30 Days) के भीतर प्रकट किए गए सभी दस्तावेजों का निरीक्षण पूरा करेंगे। न्यायालय स्वविवेक से इस समय-सीमा को बढ़ा सकेगा, किंतु किसी भी दशा में तीस दिन से अधिक नहीं बढ़ाएगा (अधिकतम 60 दिन)।
(2) कोई भी पक्षकार किसी भी प्रक्रम पर न्यायालय से उन दस्तावेजों के निरीक्षण या प्रस्तुति हेतु निदेश मांग सकेगा जिसका निरीक्षण विरोधी पक्षकार ने अस्वीकार कर दिया हो या नोटिस के बाद भी प्रस्तुत न किया हो।
(3) ऐसे आवेदन का निस्तारण (जवाब व प्रत्युत्तर सहित) दाखिल होने के 30 दिन के भीतर किया जाएगा।
(4) यदि आवेदन मंजूर हो जाता है, तो आदेश के पांच दिन (5 Days) के भीतर निरीक्षण और प्रतियां उपलब्ध कराई जाएंगी।
(5) किसी भी पक्षकार को ऐसे दस्तावेज पर निर्भर करने की अनुमति नहीं होगी जिसे उसने प्रकट न किया हो अथवा जिसका निरीक्षण न कराया हो, सिवाय न्यायालय की विशेष अनुमति के।
(6) जानबूझकर या लापरवाही से दस्तावेज छिपाने अथवा अनुचित रूप से निरीक्षण रोकने वाले व्यतिक्रमी पक्षकार पर न्यायालय अनुकरणीय हर्जाना (Exemplary costs) अधिरोपित कर सकेगा।