No witness to be ordered to attend in person unless resident within certain limits
Full Text
No one shall be ordered to attend in person to give evidence unless he resides—
(a) within the local limits of the Court’s ordinary jurisdiction, or
(b) without such limits but at a place less than one hundred or (where there is railway or steamer communication or other established public conveyance for five-sixths of the distance between the place where he resides and the place where the Court is situate) less than five hundred kilometres distance from the court-house: Provided that where transport by air is available between the two places mentioned in this rule and the witness is paid the fare by air, he may be ordered to attend in person.
Plain English Summary
Prohibits compelling personal attendance of witnesses residing beyond local jurisdiction or exceeding 500 km (where public transport exists) or 100 km (otherwise), unless airfare is provided, making commission examination mandatory.
Key Legal Elements
- Local Jurisdiction Criterion: Witness residing inside territorial limits must attend.
- 100 km Baseline: Where no public transport exists for 5/6th of journey.
- 500 km Extended Limit: Where railway, steamer, or public conveyance exists.
- Air Travel Exception (Proviso): Witness can be summoned from anywhere in India if party tenders direct airfare.
- Commission Gateway: Outside these limits, evidence MUST be taken via commission under Order XXVI.
Practical Note
Strategic Use of Order XVI Rule 19: 1. Foundation for Commission Evidence: If an essential witness resides in Bengaluru and the suit is in Delhi (>500 km), they cannot be compelled to attend in person unless airfare is deposited. Opposing party can resist summons and seek examination on commission under Order XXVI Rule 4 CPC. 2. Overcoming the Distance Bar: If a party insists on in-person testimony of an outstation expert/witness, file an undertaking: 'Plaintiff undertakes to deposit economy airfare to and from Bengaluru under the Proviso to Order XVI Rule 19 CPC'.
हिंदी पाठ
किसी भी व्यक्ति को साक्ष्य देने के लिए व्यक्तिगत रूप से उपस्थित होने का तब तक आदेश नहीं दिया जाएगा जब तक कि वह—
(क) न्यायालय की सामान्य अधिकारिता की स्थानीय सीमाओं के भीतर निवास न करता हो, या
(ख) ऐसी सीमाओं के बाहर किन्तु सौ (100) किलोमीटर से कम, या (जहां उसके निवास स्थान और न्यायालय के बीच पांच-छठे भाग की दूरी के लिए रेलवे, स्टीमर या अन्य स्थापित सार्वजनिक परिवहन उपलब्ध है) न्यायालय-भवन से पांच सौ (500) किलोमीटर से कम दूरी पर स्थित स्थान पर निवास न करता हो: परन्तु जहां दोनों स्थानों के बीच हवाई परिवहन उपलब्ध है और साक्षी को हवाई यात्रा का किराया चुकाया जाता है, वहां उसे व्यक्तिगत रूप से उपस्थित होने का आदेश दिया जा सकेगा।