Inspection of documents referred to in pleadings or affidavits
Full Text
Every party to a suit shall be entitled at or before the settlement of issues to give notice to any other party, in whose pleadings or affidavits reference is made to any document, or who has entered any document in any list annexed to his pleadings, to produce such document for the inspection of the party giving such notice, or of his pleader, and to permit him or them to take copies thereof; and any party not complying with such notice shall not afterwards be at liberty to put any such document in evidence on his behalf in such suit unless he shall satisfy the Court that such document relates only to his own title, he being a defendant to the suit, or that he had some other cause or excuse which the Court shall deem sufficient for not complying with such notice, in which case the Court may allow the same to be put in evidence on such terms as to costs and otherwise as the Court shall think fit.
Plain English Summary
Grants parties an absolute right at or before settlement of issues to inspect and take copies of all documents referred to in an adversary's pleadings or annexed lists, barring uninspected documents from being produced in evidence without court leave.
Key Legal Elements
- Absolute Right of Inspection: Pertains to documents expressly referenced in pleadings or annexed lists.
- Timeline: At or before settlement of issues under Order XIV.
- Right to Take Copies: Party or pleader is entitled to examine originals and obtain copies.
- Statutory Evidentiary Bar: Defaulting party is barred from introducing the uninspected document in evidence without establishing sufficient cause.
Practical Note
Strategic Use of Notice for Inspection: Serving notice under Rule 15 immediately after receiving the Written Statement stops the defendant from concealing referenced agreements or receipts. If defendant refuses inspection, they cannot introduce the document during evidence!
हिंदी पाठ
वाद का प्रत्येक पक्षकार विवाद्यकों के स्थिर किए जाने के समय या उससे पूर्व किसी अन्य पक्षकार को, जिसके अभिवचनों या शपथपत्रों में किसी दस्तावेज का निर्देश किया गया है, अथवा जिसने अपने अभिवचनों से उपाबद्ध किसी सूची में किसी दस्तावेज को प्रविष्ट किया है, यह सूचना देने का हकदार होगा कि वह ऐसी दस्तावेज को ऐसी सूचना देने वाले पक्षकार या उसके प्लीडर के निरीक्षण के लिए प्रस्तुत करे, और उसे या उन्हें उसकी प्रतियां लेने की अनुज्ञा दे; और ऐसी सूचना का अनुपालन न करने वाला कोई भी पक्षकार तत्पश्चात ऐसे वाद में अपनी ओर से ऐसी किसी दस्तावेज को साक्ष्य में रखने के लिए स्वतंत्र नहीं होगा, जब तक कि वह न्यायालय का यह समाधान न कर दे कि ऐसी दस्तावेज केवल उसके अपने हक से संबंधित है, वह वाद में प्रतिवादी है, अथवा उसके पास ऐसा कोई अन्य कारण था जिसे न्यायालय अनुपालन न करने के लिए पर्याप्त समझे।