Power to order any point to be proved by affidavit
Full Text
Any Court may at any time for sufficient reason order that any particular fact or facts may be proved by affidavit, or that the affidavit of any witness may be read at the hearing, on such conditions as the Court thinks reasonable: Provided that where it appears to the Court that either party bona fide desires the production of a witness for cross-examination, and that such witness can be produced, an order shall not be made authorising the evidence of such witness to be given by affidavit.
Plain English Summary
Empowers the Court to direct proof of specific facts by affidavit, subject to the absolute proviso that an affidavit cannot replace oral testimony if a party bona fide seeks to cross-examine the witness and the witness can be produced.
Key Legal Elements
- Proof by Affidavit: Exception to the general rule of oral deposition in open court.
- Sufficient Reason Requirement: Court must record grounds justifying proof by affidavit.
- Absolute Right of Cross-Examination: Proviso bars proof by affidavit if adversary bona fide demands production for cross-examination.
- Availability Criterion: Applies where the witness is capable of being produced.
Practical Note
Cross-Examination Right under Order XIX Rule 1: 1. Landmark Ruling - Sudha Devi v. M.P. Narayanan (1988) 3 SCC 366: The Supreme Court held that affidavits are not 'evidence' within the meaning of Section 3 of the Evidence Act unless permitted by the Court under Order XIX CPC. An affidavit cannot be acted upon against an adversary unless an opportunity for cross-examination is provided. 2. Strategy: When an opposing party attempts to prove contentious title or possession through formal affidavits without fielding the deponent, object immediately citing the Proviso: 'The defendant bona fide desires the production of the deponent for cross-examination; no order can be passed permitting evidence by affidavit'.
हिंदी पाठ
कोई भी न्यायालय किसी भी समय पर्याप्त हेतुक (Sufficient reason) होने पर यह आदेश दे सकेगा कि किसी विशिष्ट तथ्य या तथ्यों को शपथपत्र (Affidavit) द्वारा साबित किया जाए, अथवा किसी साक्षी का शपथपत्र सुनवाई के समय ऐसी शर्तों पर पढ़ा जाए जिन्हें न्यायालय युक्तियुक्त समझे: परन्तु जहां न्यायालय को यह प्रतीत होता है कि कोई भी पक्षकार सद्भावपूर्वक (Bona fide) प्रतिपरीक्षा (Cross-examination) के लिए साक्षी को बुलाना चाहता है, और ऐसे साक्षी को पेश किया जा सकता है, वहां ऐसे साक्षी का साक्ष्य शपथपत्र द्वारा दिए जाने को प्राधिकृत करने वाला कोई आदेश नहीं दिया जाएगा।