Verified copies
Full Text
(1) Where inspection of any business books is applied for, the Court may, if it thinks fit, instead of ordering inspection of the original books, order a copy of any entries therein to be furnished and verified by the affidavit of some person who has examined the copy with the original entries, and such affidavit shall state whether or not there are in the original book any and what erasures, interlineations or alterations: Provided that, notwithstanding that such copy has been supplied, the Court may order inspection of the book from which the copy was made.
(2) Where on an application for an order for inspection privilege is claimed for any document, it shall be lawful for the Court to inspect the document for the purpose of deciding as to the validity of the claim of privilege unless the document relates to matters of State.
(3) The Court may, on the application of any party to suit at any time, and whether an affidavit of documents shall or shall not have already been ordered or made, make an order requiring any other party to state by affidavit whether any one or more specific documents, to be specified in the application, is or are, or has or have at any time been, in his possession or power; and, if not then in his possession, when he parted with the same and what has become thereof. Such application shall be made on an affidavit stating that in the belief of the deponent the party against whom the application is made has, or has at some time had in his possession or power the document or documents specified in the application, and that they relate to the matters in question in the suit, or to some of them.
Plain English Summary
Regulates inspection of business books through verified copies, authorizes judicial in-camera inspection to adjudicate privilege claims (state affairs excepted), and empowers the court under sub-rule (3) to compel an affidavit regarding specific targeted documents.
Key Legal Elements
- Verified Business Copies (Sub-rule 1): Avoids disrupting business by substituting verified extracts for bulky account books.
- Judicial In-Camera Inspection of Privileged Docs (Sub-rule 2): Court inspects document privately to test privilege, unless it touches State Affairs (Section 123 Evidence Act / BSA).
- Targeted Specific Document Affidavit (Sub-rule 3): Powerful discovery tool where applicant suspects opponent is suppressing a known specific document.
Practical Note
Sub-rule (3) Weapon against Document Suppression: If you know the opposite party possesses an internal Board Resolution or email, file an application under Order XI Rule 19(3) supported by an affidavit stating your belief that they possess it and demanding an affidavit disclosing where it is.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) जहां किन्हीं कारबारी बहियों (Business books) के निरीक्षण के लिए आवेदन किया जाता है, वहां न्यायालय मूल बहियों के निरीक्षण का आदेश देने के बजाय उनमें की प्रविष्टियों की एक प्रति प्रस्तुत करने और उसका किसी ऐसे व्यक्ति के शपथपत्र द्वारा सत्यापन कराने का आदेश दे सकेगा जिसने मूल प्रविष्टियों से प्रति का मिलान किया है, और ऐसे शपथपत्र में यह कथित होगा कि क्या मूल बही में कोई काट-छांट, अंतर्लेखन या परिवर्तन हैं या नहीं: परन्तु न्यायालय मूल बही के निरीक्षण का आदेश दे सकेगा।
(2) जहां निरीक्षण के आवेदन पर किसी दस्तावेज के लिए विशेषाधिकार (Privilege) का दावा किया जाता है, वहां न्यायालय के लिए विशेषाधिकार के दावे की विधिमान्यता का विनिश्चय करने के प्रयोजन से दस्तावेज का स्वयं निरीक्षण करना विधिपूर्ण होगा, जब तक कि दस्तावेज राज्य के मामलों से संबंधित न हो।
(3) न्यायालय किसी भी समय किसी पक्षकार से शपथपत्र द्वारा यह बताने की अपेक्षा कर सकेगा कि क्या कोई विनिर्दिष्ट दस्तावेज उसके कब्जे में है या रहा है, और यदि नहीं, तो वह कब अलग हुआ और उसका क्या हुआ।