Summons to produce document
Full Text
Any person may be summoned to produce a document, without being summoned to give evidence; and any person summoned merely to produce a document shall be deemed to have complied with the summons if he causes such document to be produced instead of attending personally to produce the same.
Plain English Summary
Clarifies that a person summoned solely to produce a document need not attend court in person, and complies fully by causing the document to be produced through an authorized agent or representative.
Key Legal Elements
- Production without Oral Deposition: Separates custodians of records from substantive witnesses.
- No Personal Appearance Required: Document may be produced via messenger, subordinate, or post.
- No Right to Cross-Examine: A witness summoned merely under Rule 6 cannot be cross-examined unless called as an ordinary witness (Section 139, Indian Evidence Act).
Practical Note
Crucial Courtroom Rule for Record Custodians: 1. Evidence Act Section 139: A person summoned merely to produce a document does not become a witness and cannot be cross-examined unless and until he is called as a witness to give oral evidence. 2. Practice: When summoning bank branch managers, registrar clerks, or hospital medical superintendents solely for records, invoke Rule 6. The clerk attending with the record fulfills the summons without requiring the senior officer's personal presence.
हिंदी पाठ
किसी भी व्यक्ति को साक्ष्य देने के लिए समन किए बिना केवल दस्तावेज पेश करने के लिए समन किया जा सकेगा; और केवल दस्तावेज पेश करने के लिए समन किया गया कोई भी व्यक्ति समन का अनुपालन करने वाला समझा जाएगा यदि वह उसे पेश करने के लिए स्वयं व्यक्तिगत उपस्थित होने के बजाय ऐसे दस्तावेज को किसी अन्य माध्यम से पेश करवा देता है।