Production of documents (Commercial Courts)
Full Text
[Commercial Courts Regime — Order XI Rule 5]
(1) Any party to a proceeding may seek or the Court may order, at any time during the pendency of any suit, production by any party or person, of such documents in the possession or power of such party or person, relating to any matter in question in such suit.
(2) Notice to produce such document shall be issued in the Form provided in Form No. 7 in Appendix C to the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908).
(3) Any party or person to whom such notice to produce is issued shall be given not less than seven days and not more than fifteen days to produce such document or to answer to their inability to produce such document.
(4) The Court may draw an adverse inference against a party refusing to produce such document after issuance of a notice to produce and where sufficient reasons for such non-production are not given and order costs.
Plain English Summary
Regulates production of documents in commercial suits upon notice in Form No. 7 with a 7 to 15-day compliance window, authorizing the court to draw an adverse inference and award costs for unexplained refusal.
Key Legal Elements
- Form No. 7 Notice to Produce: Statutory process issued to party or third-party custodian.
- Statutory Window: Strict 7 to 15 days to comply or state lawful inability.
- Adverse Inference Sanction (Sub-rule 4): Section 114 Illustration (g) Evidence Act / Section 119 BSA adverse presumption triggered.
- Cost Sanctions: Immediate compensatory costs against recalcitrant custodians.
Practical Note
Strategic Use of Rule 5 Adverse Inference: If defendant conceals the original signed contract or ledger, issue Form 7 notice. If defendant fails to produce within 15 days, move the court to record an express finding of adverse inference under Rule 5(4) that the document, if produced, would have disproved defendant's case.
हिंदी पाठ
[वाणिज्यिक न्यायालय व्यवस्था — आदेश 11 नियम 5]
(1) कार्यवाही का कोई भी पक्षकार किसी भी प्रक्रम पर किसी पक्षकार या व्यक्ति के कब्जे या शक्ति में मौजूद वाद से संबंधित दस्तावेजों को प्रस्तुत करने की मांग कर सकेगा अथवा न्यायालय ऐसा आदेश कर सकेगा।
(2) ऐसा दस्तावेज प्रस्तुत करने की सूचना सीपीसी के परिशिष्ट ग के प्ररूप संख्या 7 में जारी की जाएगी।
(3) जिस पक्षकार या व्यक्ति को ऐसी सूचना जारी की जाती है, उसे ऐसा दस्तावेज प्रस्तुत करने अथवा प्रस्तुत करने में असमर्थता का उत्तर देने के लिए कम से कम सात दिन और अधिक से अधिक पंद्रह दिन (7 to 15 Days) का समय दिया जाएगा।
(4) सूचना जारी होने के बाद बिना पर्याप्त कारण दस्तावेज प्रस्तुत करने से इनकार करने वाले पक्षकार के विरुद्ध न्यायालय प्रतिकूल उपधारणा (Adverse inference) निकाल सकेगा तथा खर्चे का आदेश दे सकेगा।