Recording of evidence
Full Text
(1) In every case, the examination-in-chief of a witness shall be on affidavit and copies thereof shall be supplied to the opposite party by the party who calls him for evidence: Provided that where documents are filed and the parties rely upon the documents, the proof and admissibility of such documents which are filed along with affidavit shall be subject to the orders of the Court.
[Commercial Courts Amendment]
(1A) The affidavits of evidence of all witnesses whose evidence is proposed to be led by a party shall be filed simultaneously by that party at the time directed in the first Case Management Hearing.
(1B) A party shall not lead additional evidence by the affidavit of any witness (including of a witness who has already filed an affidavit) unless sufficient cause is made out in an application for that purpose and an order, giving reasons, permitting such additional affidavit is passed by the Court.
(1C) A party shall however have the right to withdraw any of the affidavits so filed at any time prior to commencement of cross-examination of that witness, without any adverse inference being drawn based on such withdrawal: Provided that any other party shall be entitled to tender as evidence and rely upon any admission made in such withdrawn affidavit.
(2) The evidence (cross-examination and re-examination) of the witness in attendance, whose evidence (examination-in-chief) by affidavit has been furnished to the Court, shall be taken either by the Court or by the Commissioner appointed by it: Provided that the Court may, while appointing a commission under this sub-rule, consider taking into account such relevant factors as it thinks fit.
(3) The Court or the Commissioner, as the case may be, shall record evidence either in writing or mechanically in the presence of the Judge or of the Commissioner, as the case may be, and where such evidence is recorded by the Commissioner he shall return such evidence together with his report in writing signed by him to the Court appointing him and the evidence taken under it shall form part of the record of the suit.
(4) The Commissioner may record such remarks as it thinks material respecting the demeanour of any witness while under examination: Provided that any objection raised during the recording of evidence before the Commissioner shall be recorded by him and decided by the Court at the stage of arguments.
(5) The report of the Commissioner shall be submitted to the Court appointing the commission within sixty days from the date of issue of the commission unless the Court for reasons to be recorded in writing extends the time.
(6) The High Court or the District Judge, as the case may be, shall prepare a panel of Commissioners to record the evidence under this rule.
(7) The Court may by general or special order fix the amount to be paid as remuneration for the services of the Commissioner.
(8) The provisions of rules 16, 16A, 17 and 18 of Order XXVI, in so far as they are applicable, shall apply to the issue, execution and return of such commission under this rule.
Plain English Summary
Mandates that examination-in-chief in all civil suits must be furnished on affidavit, permits cross-examination before the Court or a Local Commissioner, directs objections to be recorded for decision at final arguments, and sets a 60-day deadline for commissioner reports.
Key Legal Elements
- Mandatory Affidavit for Chief Examination (Sub-rule 1): Oral examination-in-chief abolished; replaced by sworn evidentiary affidavit.
- Admissibility of Documents: Marking of exhibits subject to judicial orders.
- Local Commissioner for Cross-Examination (Sub-rule 2): Relieves trial judges of hours of witness cross-examinations.
- Recording Objections without Halting Trial (Sub-rule 4 Proviso): Objections recorded by commissioner and decided at final arguments (Bipin Shantilal Panchal principle).
- 60-Day Report Mandate (Sub-rule 5): Prevents indefinite delay in commission proceedings.
- Commercial Suit Distinctions (Sub-rules 1A–1C): Simultaneous filing of all affidavits; withdrawal allowed without adverse inference.
Practical Note
The Engine of Civil Trials - Order XVIII Rule 4: 1. Supreme Court Landmark - Salem Advocate Bar Association (I) v. UOI (2003) 1 SCC 49 & Salem (II) (2005) 6 SCC 344: Upheld the constitutional validity of recording examination-in-chief on affidavit and cross-examination through Commissioners. 2. Ameer Trading Corp. Ltd. v. Shapoorji Data Processing Ltd. (2004) 1 SCC 702: Harmonized Rule 4 with Rule 5, clarifying that examination-in-chief of all witnesses (including parties) in appealable cases must be on affidavit under Rule 4, while cross-examination is governed by Rule 5. 3. Handling Objections - Bipin Shantilal Panchal v. State of Gujarat (2001) 3 SCC 1: When counsel objects to a document (e.g. mode of proof or stamp deficiency), the commissioner does not stop the proceeding; the commissioner marks the document tentatively (e.g. 'Exhibit P-1 subject to objection as to mode of proof'), notes the objection, and proceeds.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) प्रत्येक मामले में, साक्षी की मुख्य परीक्षा (Examination-in-chief) शपथपत्र (Affidavit) पर होगी और उसकी प्रतियां साक्ष्य हेतु बुलाने वाले पक्षकार द्वारा विरोधी पक्षकार को दी जाएंगी: परन्तु जहां दस्तावेज दाखिल किए जाते हैं और पक्षकार उन पर निर्भर करते हैं, वहां शपथपत्र के साथ दाखिल ऐसे दस्तावेजों का सबूत और ग्राह्यता (Proof and admissibility) न्यायालय के आदेशों के अधीन होगी।
[वाणिज्यिक न्यायालय संशोधन]
(1क) सभी गवाहों के साक्ष्य के शपथपत्र पहली केस मैनेजमेंट हियरिंग में दिए गए निर्देशानुसार एक साथ (Simultaneously) दाखिल किए जाएंगे;
(1ख) अतिरिक्त शपथपत्र केवल न्यायालय की पूर्व-अनुमति से ही दिया जा सकेगा;
(1ग) जिरह शुरू होने से पहले किसी भी शपथपत्र को वापस लेने का अधिकार होगा जिस पर कोई प्रतिकूल निष्कर्ष नहीं निकाला जाएगा; परन्तु विरोधी पक्षकार उसमें की गई स्वीकृति (Admission) का उपयोग कर सकेगा।
(2) उपस्थित साक्षी की प्रतिपरीक्षा (Cross-examination) और पुनःपरीक्षा न्यायालय द्वारा अथवा उसके द्वारा नियुक्त कोर्ट कमिश्नर (Local Commissioner) द्वारा ली जाएगी।
(3) न्यायालय या कमिश्नर साक्ष्य को लिखित में या यांत्रिक रूप से दर्ज करेगा और कमिश्नर हस्ताक्षरित रिपोर्ट के साथ साक्ष्य न्यायालय को लौटाएगा जो वाद के अभिलेख का भाग होगा।
(4) कमिश्नर साक्षी की भाव-भंगिमा (Demeanour) दर्ज कर सकेगा: परन्तु कमिश्नर के समक्ष उठाई गई कोई भी आपत्ति दर्ज की जाएगी और उसका निर्णय अंतिम बहस के समय न्यायालय द्वारा किया जाएगा।
(5) कमिश्नर की रिपोर्ट 60 दिन के भीतर प्रस्तुत की जाएगी।
(6) जिला जज कमिश्नरों का एक पैनल तैयार करेंगे।
(7) न्यायालय कमिश्नर का पारिश्रमिक तय करेगा।
(8) आदेश 26 के नियम 16, 16क, 17 और 18 इस पर लागू होंगे।