Cases in which Court may issue commission to examine witness
Full Text
Any Court may in any suit issue a commission for the examination on interrogatories or otherwise of any person resident within the local limits of its jurisdiction who is exempted under this Code from attending the Court or who is from sickness or infirmity unable to attend it:
Provided that a commission for examination on interrogatories shall not be issued unless the Court, for reasons to be recorded, thinks it necessary so to do.
Explanation.—The Court may, for the purpose of this rule, accept a certificate purporting to be signed by a registered medical practitioner as evidence of the sickness or infirmity of any person, without calling the medical practitioner as a witness.
Plain English Summary
Empowers the court to issue a commission to examine any resident witness who is legally exempted from court attendance (e.g., under Sections 132 or 133) or physically incapacitated due to illness or infirmity, permitting proof of medical disability via a registered doctor's certificate without examining the physician.
Key Legal Elements
- Grounds of Commission: Legal exemption under CPC (Sec 132 pardanasheen ladies, Sec 133 dignitaries) or physical inability due to sickness/infirmity.
- Examination Mode: Either viva voce (oral examination & cross-examination) or on interrogatories.
- Interrogatories Restriction: Commission on written interrogatories requires recorded judicial reasons.
- Evidentiary Exemption for Doctor (Explanation): Certificate of registered medical practitioner admissible without calling the doctor to the witness box.
- Jurisdictional Scope: Pertains to witnesses resident within local limits of the issuing court.
Practical Note
Courtroom Strategy for In-House Commission: 1. Medical Incapacity Proof: When filing under Rule 1 for an elderly, bedridden, or hospitalized witness, attach a detailed medical certificate mentioning specific clinical disability preventing court travel. Rely directly on the Explanation to prevent the adversary from demanding the doctor's attendance. 2. Viva Voce vs. Interrogatories: Courts strongly lean towards oral examination by an Advocate Commissioner over interrogatories because demeanour and effective cross-examination are preserved. Always pray for oral examination by an appointed advocate commissioner.
हिंदी पाठ
कोई भी न्यायालय किसी भी वाद में अपनी अधिकारिता की स्थानीय सीमाओं के भीतर निवास करने वाले किसी ऐसे व्यक्ति की, जो न्यायालय में उपसंजात (हाजिर) होने से इस संहिता के अधीन छूट-प्राप्त (Exempted) है अथवा जो बीमारी या अंग-शैथिल्य (Sickness or infirmity) के कारण न्यायालय में हाजिर होने में असमर्थ है, परिप्रश्नों (Interrogatories) पर या अन्यथा परीक्षा करने के लिए कमीशन निकाल सकेगा:
परंतु परिप्रश्नों पर परीक्षा के लिए कमीशन तब तक नहीं निकाला जाएगा जब तक कि न्यायालय अभिलिखित किए जाने वाले कारणों से ऐसा करना आवश्यक न समझे।
स्पष्टीकरण—न्यायालय इस नियम के प्रयोजन के लिए, किसी रजिस्ट्रीकृत चिकित्सा व्यवसायी (Registered Medical Practitioner) द्वारा हस्ताक्षरित तात्पर्यित प्रमाणपत्र को उस चिकित्सक को साक्षी के रूप में बुलाए बिना, किसी व्यक्ति की बीमारी या अंग-शैथिल्य के साक्ष्य के रूप में स्वीकार कर सकेगा।