Procedure if witness fails to appear
Full Text
(1) The Court may, where such person does not appear, or appears but fails so to satisfy the Court, impose upon him such fine not exceeding five hundred rupees as it thinks fit, having regard to his condition in life and all the circumstances of the case, and may order his property, or any part thereof, to be attached and sold or, if already attached under rule 10, to be sold for the purpose of satisfying all costs of such attachment, together with the amount of the said fine, if any: Provided that, if the person whose attendance is required pays into Court the costs and fine aforesaid, the Court shall order the property to be released from attachment.
(2) Notwithstanding that the Court has not issued a proclamation under sub-rule (2) of rule 10, nor issued a warrant nor ordered attachment under sub-rule (3) of that rule, the Court may impose fine under sub-rule (1) of this rule after giving notice to such person to show cause why the fine should not be imposed.
Plain English Summary
Authorizes the Court to impose a statutory fine up to ₹500 and sell attached property if a summoned witness fails to appear or justify their absence, after issuing a show cause notice.
Key Legal Elements
- Fine Ceiling: Statutory limit of ₹500 under CPC.
- Sale of Attached Property: Movable assets auctioned to recover fine and attachment costs.
- Direct Show Cause Notice (Sub-rule 2): Independent power to penalize without prior proclamation or warrant.
Practical Note
Show Cause Notice for Penalizing Witnesses: Under Sub-rule (2), courts can issue a direct show cause notice calling upon a defaulting official witness to explain why fine should not be deducted from their salary for wasting court time.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) न्यायालय, जहां ऐसा व्यक्ति उपस्थित नहीं होता है, या उपस्थित होता है किन्तु न्यायालय का समाधान करने में असफल रहता है, वहां उसकी जीवन-दशा और मामले की परिस्थितियों को ध्यान में रखते हुए उस पर पांच सौ रुपये (₹500) से अनधिक का ऐसा जुर्माना लगा सकेगा जैसा वह ठीक समझे, और उसकी संपत्ति या उसके किसी भाग को कुर्क और विक्रय करने का अथवा नियम 10 के अधीन पहले से कुर्क संपत्ति को जुर्माना व खर्चे वसूलने हेतु बेचने का आदेश दे सकेगा: परन्तु यदि वह व्यक्ति खर्चे व जुर्माने की रकम जमा कर देता है, तो संपत्ति कुर्की से मुक्त कर दी जाएगी।
(2) भले ही न्यायालय ने नियम 10 के अधीन न तो कोई उद्घोषणा जारी की हो, न कोई वारंट जारी किया हो और न ही कुर्की का आदेश दिया हो, फिर भी न्यायालय ऐसे व्यक्ति को कारण बताओ नोटिस (Show Cause Notice) देकर उप-नियम (1) के अधीन जुर्माना अधिरोपित कर सकेगा।