Notice to produce documents
Full Text
Notice to produce documents shall be in Form No. 12 in Appendix C, with such variations as circumstances may require. An affidavit of the pleader, or his clerk, of the service of any notice to produce, and of the time when it was served, with a copy of the notice to produce, shall in all cases be sufficient evidence of the service of the notice, and of the time when it was served.
Plain English Summary
Prescribes Form No. 12 of Appendix C for serving a formal notice to produce documents at trial, establishing that an advocate's or clerk's affidavit of service is sufficient proof, serving as the statutory foundation to lead secondary evidence.
Key Legal Elements
- Statutory Precedent: Form No. 12 in Appendix C.
- Foundation for Secondary Evidence: Mandatory prerequisite under Section 66 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 / Section 61 Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023.
- Affidavit of Service: Advocate's or clerk's sworn affidavit of service serves as conclusive procedural proof.
- Legal Consequence: Failure of adversary to produce after Rule 8 notice unlocks absolute right to prove contents by photocopies / secondary evidence under Section 65(a) Evidence Act / Section 60 BSA.
Practical Note
The Cornerstone of Secondary Evidence (Section 65/66 Evidence Act & Rule 8): 1. Statutory Prerequisite: In civil litigation, you CANNOT lead secondary evidence (photocopy) of a document in the adversary's possession without FIRST serving a formal notice to produce under Order XII Rule 8 CPC read with Section 66 Evidence Act / Section 61 BSA! 2. Supreme Court Principle: Serving notice under Rule 8 and placing the clerk's affidavit of service on record lays the indispensable legal foundation. Once the opponent fails to produce the original, you immediately tender the photocopy as secondary evidence. 3. Notice Title: 'Notice to Produce Original Documents at Trial under Order XII Rule 8 CPC read with Section 66 Indian Evidence Act, 1872 / Section 61 BSA, 2023'.
हिंदी पाठ
दस्तावेज प्रस्तुत करने की सूचना परिशिष्ट ग के प्ररूप संख्या 12 में होगी, जिसमें ऐसे परिवर्तनों के साथ जो परिस्थितियां अपेक्षित करें। किसी भी सूचना की तामील का और उस समय का जब वह तामील की गई थी, दस्तावेज प्रस्तुत करने की सूचना की एक प्रति के साथ, प्लीडर या उसके लिपिक का शपथपत्र, सभी मामलों में सूचना की तामील का और उस समय का जब वह तामील की गई थी, पर्याप्त साक्ष्य होगा।