Court may of its own accord summon as witnesses strangers to suit
Full Text
Subject to the provisions of this Code as to attendance and appearance and to any law for the time being in force, where the Court at any time thinks it necessary to examine any person, including a party to the suit and not called as a witness by a party to the suit, the Court may, of its own motion, cause such person to be summoned as a witness to give evidence, or to produce any document in his possession, on a day to be appointed, and may examine him as a witness or require him to produce such document.
Plain English Summary
Empowers the Court suo motu to summon and examine any stranger or uncalled party as a court witness or compel document production to discover the truth and prevent miscarriage of justice.
Key Legal Elements
- Suo Motu Judicial Authority: Court acts on its own motion without waiting for party applications.
- Applies to Strangers and Parties: Includes parties whom neither side chose to examine.
- Court Witness (CW) Status: Witness becomes a witness of the Court; both plaintiff and defendant are entitled to cross-examine with leave.
- Truth-Seeking Function: Overrides partisan control over the evidentiary record.
Practical Note
Invoking Order XVI Rule 14 as Counsel: 1. Strategic Motion: When a vital third party (e.g. attesting scribe, investigating officer, or neutral surveyor) is not being called by either party because both fear adverse answers, move an application requesting the Court to summon the person as a Court Witness (CW) under Order XVI Rule 14 CPC. 2. Cross-Examination Rights: Once examined by the Court, both parties possess the right to cross-examine the Court Witness on their answers (Section 165, Evidence Act). 3. P.T. Thomas v. Thomas Job (2005) 6 SCC 478: The Supreme Court observed that the judge is not a passive spectator but has an affirmative duty to invoke powers under Rule 14 to uncover the truth.
हिंदी पाठ
उपस्थिति और उपसंजाति के बारे में इस संहिता के उपबंधों तथा तत्समय प्रवृत्त किसी विधि के अधीन रहते हुए, जहां न्यायालय किसी भी समय वाद के किसी पक्षकार सहित ऐसे किसी व्यक्ति की परीक्षा करना आवश्यक समझता है जिसे वाद के किसी पक्षकार द्वारा साक्षी के रूप में नहीं बुलाया गया है, वहां न्यायालय स्वप्रेरणा से (Of its own motion / Suo motu) ऐसे व्यक्ति को नियत दिन पर साक्ष्य देने या अपने कब्जे के दस्तावेज पेश करने के लिए साक्षी के रूप में समन करवा सकेगा, और साक्षी के रूप में उसकी परीक्षा कर सकेगा या उससे ऐसा दस्तावेज पेश करने की अपेक्षा कर सकेगा।