Endorsements on documents admitted in evidence
Full Text
(1) Subject to the provisions of the next following sub-rule, there shall be endorsed on every document which has been admitted in evidence in the suit the following particulars, namely:—
(a) the number and title of the suit,
(b) the name of the person producing the document,
(c) the date on which it was produced, and
(d) a statement of its having been so admitted,
and the endorsement shall be signed or initialled by the Judge.
(2) Where a document so admitted is an entry in a book, account or record, and a copy thereof has been substituted for the original under the next following rule, the particulars aforesaid shall be endorsed on the copy and the endorsement thereon shall be signed or initialled by the Judge.
Plain English Summary
Governs the formal judicial endorsement of admitted documents—the universal practice of marking Exhibits (Ex. P-1 / Ex. D-1)—specifying suit number, producer name, date, and admission statement signed by the presiding judge.
Key Legal Elements
- Statutory Exhibit Marking: Legal foundation for marking documents as Exhibit P-1, Ex. D-1, etc.
- Four Mandatory Endorsement Fields: Suit number/title, producer name, date of production, statement of admission.
- Judicial Signature/Initials: Endorsement is invalid without the judge's personal signature or initials.
- Distinction between Marking and Proof: Marking an exhibit is purely for identification and does not dispense with proving contents under the Evidence Act.
Practical Note
The Master Guide to Marking Exhibits and Objections (Supreme Court Jurisprudence): 1. Landmark Authorities: (a) R.V.E. Venkatachala Gounder v. Arulmigu Viswesaraswami (2003) 8 SCC 752: The Supreme Court classified document objections into two categories: - Category 1: Objections to MODE OF PROOF (e.g., secondary evidence without foundation, photocopy without comparing with original). These MUST be raised at the time of marking under Rule 4. If not raised then, the objection is WAIVED forever! - Category 2: Inherent INADMISSIBILITY (e.g., unstamped document or document barred by law). These can be raised at ANY stage, even in appeal, regardless of exhibit marking. (b) Bipin Shantilal Panchal v. State of Gujarat (2001) 3 SCC 1: Supreme Court directed that when an objection is raised to admissibility during evidence (except deficiency of stamp duty), the trial court should tentatively mark the document as 'Ex. P-1 Subject to Objection' and decide admissibility at final judgment, rather than halting the trial. (c) Sudir Engineering Co. v. Nitco Roadways (1995 DHC): Marking of an exhibit is merely for identification; it is NOT proof of the truth of its contents.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) अगले पश्चात्वर्ती उपनियम के उपबंधों के अधीन रहते हुए, वाद में साक्ष्य में ग्रहण किए गए प्रत्येक दस्तावेज पर निम्नलिखित विशिष्टियां पृष्ठांकित (Endorsed) की जाएंगी, अर्थात्:—
(क) वाद की संख्या और शीर्षक,
(ख) दस्तावेज प्रस्तुत करने वाले व्यक्ति का नाम,
(ग) वह तारीख जिस दिन वह प्रस्तुत किया गया था, और
(घ) उसके इस प्रकार ग्रहण किए जाने का कथन (जैसे Ex. P-1 / Ex. D-1),
तथा पृष्ठांकन न्यायाधीश द्वारा हस्ताक्षरित या आद्यक्षरित (Signed or initialled) किया जाएगा।
(2) जहां इस प्रकार ग्रहण किया गया दस्तावेज किसी बही, खाते या अभिलेख की प्रविष्टि है और अगले पश्चात्वर्ती नियम के अधीन मूल के स्थान पर उसकी प्रति प्रतिस्थापित की गई है, वहां पूर्वोक्त विशिष्टियां प्रति पर पृष्ठांकित की जाएंगी और न्यायाधीश द्वारा हस्ताक्षरित की जाएंगी।