Power to deal with evidence taken before another Judge
Full Text
(1) Where a Judge is prevented by death, transfer or other cause from concluding the trial of a suit, his successor may deal with any evidence or memorandum taken down or made under the foregoing rules as if such evidence or memorandum had been taken down or made by him or under his direction under the said rules and may proceed with the suit from the stage at which his predecessor left it.
(2) The provisions of sub-rule (1) shall, so far as they are applicable, be deemed to apply to evidence taken in a suit transferred under section 24.
Plain English Summary
Ensures trial continuity upon judicial transfer, retirement, or demise, authorizing the successor judge to adopt the evidence recorded by the predecessor and proceed from the existing stage.
Key Legal Elements
- Principle of Trial Continuity: No de novo trial required upon change of judicial officer.
- Full Validity of Prior Evidence: Evidence on record treated as if recorded by successor.
- Applies to Transferred Suits (Sub-rule 2): Encompasses transfers effected under Section 24 CPC.
Practical Note
Trial Resumption after Annual Judicial Transfers: Following routine judicial transfers in May/June, counsel need not re-examine witnesses. The successor judge resumes hearing from the exact stage (e.g. final arguments or remaining defence witnesses) under Rule 15.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) जहां कोई न्यायाधीश मृत्यु, स्थानांतरण या अन्य कारण से किसी वाद के विचारण को समाप्त करने से निवारित हो जाता है, वहां उसका उत्तराधिकारी पूर्वगामी नियमों के अधीन लिखे गए या बनाए गए किसी साक्ष्य या ज्ञापन को ऐसे उपयोग में ला सकेगा मानो ऐसा साक्ष्य या ज्ञापन उक्त नियमों के अधीन स्वयं उसके द्वारा अथवा उसके निदेशन में लिखा या बनाया गया था, और वह वाद में उस प्रक्रम से आगे बढ़ सकेगा जिस प्रक्रम पर उसके पूर्ववर्ती ने उसे छोड़ा था।
(2) उप-नियम (1) के उपबंध, जहां तक वे लागू हो सकते हैं, धारा 24 के अधीन अंतरित किए गए किसी वाद में लिए गए साक्ष्य को लागू समझे जाएंगे।