Return of admitted documents
Full Text
(1) Any person, whether a party to the suit or not, desirous of receiving back any documents produced by him in the suit and placed on the record shall, unless the document is impounded under rule 8, be entitled to receive back the same,—
(a) where the suit is one in which an appeal is not allowed, when the suit has been disposed of, and
(b) where the suit is one in which an appeal is allowed, when the Court is satisfied that the time for preferring an appeal has elapsed and that no appeal has been preferred or, if an appeal has been preferred, when the appeal has been disposed of:
Provided that a document may be returned at any time earlier than that prescribed by this rule if the person applying therefor—
(a) delivers to the proper officer for being substituted for the original,—
(i) in the case of a party to the suit, a certified copy, and
(ii) in the case of any other person, an ordinary copy which has been examined, compared and certified in the manner mentioned in sub-rule (2) of rule 17 of Order VII, and
(b) undertakes to produce the original, if required to do so:
Provided also, that no document shall be returned which, by force of the decree, has become wholly void or useless.
(2) On the return of a document admitted in evidence, a receipt shall be given by the person receiving it.
Plain English Summary
Regulates the return of admitted original documents after disposal and expiry of appeal limitation, permitting interim return upon substituting certified copies and furnishing an undertaking to produce originals if summoned.
Key Legal Elements
- Entitlement of Producer: Both parties and non-party witnesses entitled to return of their documents.
- Post-Litigation Return: After appeal period expires or appeal is dismissed.
- Interim Return Proviso: Allowed during pendency upon filing certified copy and written undertaking.
- Bar on Voided Documents: Cancelled bonds or voided sale deeds cannot be returned.
- Formal Receipt Required: Proper voucher entered in judicial register.
Practical Note
Taking Back Original Title Deeds during Appeal/Trial: To retrieve original sale deeds or bank guarantees while the suit or appeal is pending, file an application: 'Application under Order XIII Rule 9 read with Section 151 CPC for Return of Original Title Deed dated [Date] (Ex. P-1) on Substitution of Certified Copy and Undertaking'.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) कोई भी व्यक्ति, चाहे वह वाद का पक्षकार हो या न हो, जो वाद में अपने द्वारा प्रस्तुत और अभिलेख पर रखे गए किन्हीं दस्तावेजों को वापस पाने का इच्छुक है, जब तक कि दस्तावेज नियम 8 के अधीन परिबद्ध न कर लिया गया हो, उसे वापस पाने का हकदार होगा—
(क) जहां वाद ऐसा है जिसमें अपील अनुज्ञात नहीं है, जब वाद का निपटारा हो गया हो, और
(ख) जहां वाद ऐसा है जिसमें अपील अनुज्ञात है, जब न्यायालय का यह समाधान हो जाता है कि अपील करने का समय समाप्त हो गया है और कोई अपील नहीं की गई है अथवा अपील का निपटारा हो गया है:
परन्तु दस्तावेज इस नियम द्वारा विहित समय से पूर्व किसी भी समय वापस किया जा सकेगा यदि आवेदक मूल के स्थान पर प्रमाणित प्रतिलिपि प्रस्तुत करे और अपेक्षित होने पर मूल को पुनः प्रस्तुत करने का वचनबंध (Undertaking) दे:
परन्तु यह और कि ऐसा कोई दस्तावेज वापस नहीं किया जाएगा जो डिक्री के प्रभाव से पूर्णतः शून्य या निष्प्रयोज्य हो चुका है।
(2) साक्ष्य में ग्रहण किए गए दस्तावेज की वापसी पर प्राप्त करने वाले व्यक्ति द्वारा रसीद दी जाएगी।