Document to be deemed to be admitted if not denied after service of notice to admit documents
Full Text
(1) Every document which a party is called upon to admit, if not denied specifically or by necessary implication, or stated to be not admitted in the pleading of that party or in his reply to the notice to admit documents, shall be deemed to be admitted except as against a person under a disability:
Provided that the Court may, in its discretion and for reasons to be recorded, require any document so admitted to be proved otherwise than by such admission.
(2) Where a party unreasonably neglects or refuses to admit a document after the service on him of the notice to admit documents, the Court may direct him to pay costs to the other party by way of compensation.
Plain English Summary
Introduces the statutory Doctrine of Deemed Admission for documents: un-traversed documents called upon in a notice to admit are treated as legally admitted, dispensing with formal primary proof, backed by compensatory costs.
Key Legal Elements
- Inserted by CPC Amendment Act, 1976: Plugged loophole of silent evasion.
- Non-Traverse Applied to Documents: Mere silence or failure to reply within 7 days constitutes deemed admission.
- Disability Exemption: Does not operate against minors or persons of unsound mind.
- Judicial Proviso Discretion: Court can still order formal proof for suspicious or contested instruments.
- Compensatory Costs (Sub-rule 2): Financial compensation for unreasonable refusal.
Practical Note
Eliminating Formal Witnesses via Rule 2A: Serve notice under Rule 2 enclosing copies of rent receipts, promissory notes, or letters. If the opposite side fails to file a specific denial within 7 days, move the court on the next date: 'Under Order XII Rule 2A CPC, the documents are deemed admitted in law. Formal proof is dispensed with and the documents be marked as Exhibits'.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) प्रत्येक दस्तावेज, जिसे स्वीकार करने के लिए किसी पक्षकार से अपेक्षा की गई है, यदि उस पक्षकार के अभिवचन में अथवा दस्तावेजों को स्वीकार करने की सूचना के उसके उत्तर में विनिर्दिष्ट रूप से या आवश्यक विवक्षा से उसका इनकार नहीं किया गया है, अथवा उसका स्वीकार न किया जाना कथित नहीं किया गया है, तो निर्योग्यता के अधीन व्यक्ति के विरुद्ध के सिवाय, स्वीकृत (Deemed to be admitted) मान ली जाएगी:
परन्तु न्यायालय स्वविवेक से और लेखबद्ध किए जाने वाले कारणों से, इस प्रकार स्वीकृत किसी दस्तावेज को ऐसी स्वीकृति से अन्यथा साबित किए जाने की अपेक्षा कर सकेगा।
(2) जहां कोई पक्षकार दस्तावेजों को स्वीकार करने की सूचना की उस पर तामील के पश्चात किसी दस्तावेज को स्वीकार करने में अयुक्तियुक्त रूप से उपेक्षा या इनकार करता है, वहां न्यायालय उसे प्रतिकर के रूप में दूसरे पक्षकार को खर्चा देने का निदेश दे सकेगा।