Procedure of Commissioner
Full Text
(1) The Commissioner, after such local inspection as he deems necessary and after reducing to writing the evidence taken by him, shall return such evidence, together with his report in writing signed by him, to the Court.
(2) Report and depositions to be evidence in suit. Commissioner may be examined in person.—The report of the Commissioner and the evidence taken by him (but not the evidence without the report) shall be evidence in the suit and shall form part of the record; but the Court or, with the permission of the Court, any of the parties to the suit may examine the Commissioner personally in open Court touching any of the matters referred to him or mentioned in his report, or as to his report, or as to the manner in which he has made the investigation.
(3) Where the Court is for any reason dissatisfied with the proceedings of the Commissioner, it may direct such further inquiry to be made as it shall think fit.
Plain English Summary
Prescribes commissioner reporting procedure, establishing that the written report and recorded evidence automatically form substantive evidence in the suit under sub-rule (2), while entitling parties with court leave to cross-examine the commissioner in open court, or pray for further inquiry under sub-rule (3).
Key Legal Elements
- Mandatory Written Report: Must be signed and accompanied by field sketches, spot memos, and statements.
- Automatic Substantive Evidence (Sub-rule 2): Report forms part of the record without formal proof or calling the commissioner, unlike private expert reports.
- Right to Cross-Examine Commissioner: Adversary adversely affected by the report has a statutory right to summon and cross-examine the commissioner in open court.
- Setting Aside & Further Inquiry (Sub-rule 3): Court can discard a flawed report and order re-inspection or appoint a second commissioner only after finding the first report deficient.
Practical Note
Challenging an Adverse Commissioner Report: 1. Filing Written Objections: Always file detailed written objections to the Commissioner's report pointing out procedural defects (lack of notice, failure to follow fixed revenue points, biased measurements). 2. Summoning for Cross-Examination: Sub-rule (2) grants the right to examine the Commissioner in open court. Never skip cross-examination; confronting the commissioner with physical maps, photos, and boundary pillars is essential to discredit the report. 3. Second Commission Rule: The court cannot appoint a second commissioner without first considering objections and setting aside or expressing dissatisfaction with the first commissioner's report under sub-rule (3) (Southern Command Military Engg. Services v. V.K.K. Nair (1992) 1 SCC 86).
हिंदी पाठ
(1) कमिश्नर, ऐसे स्थानीय निरीक्षण के पश्चात जैसा वह आवश्यक समझे और अपने द्वारा लिए गए साक्ष्य को लेखबद्ध करने के पश्चात, ऐसे साक्ष्य को अपने द्वारा हस्ताक्षरित लिखित रिपोर्ट के साथ न्यायालय को लौटाएगा।
(2) रिपोर्ट और बयान वाद में साक्ष्य होंगे। कमिश्नर की वैयक्तिक रूप से परीक्षा की जा सकेगी—कमिश्नर की रिपोर्ट और उसके द्वारा लिया गया साक्ष्य (किंतु रिपोर्ट के बिना साक्ष्य नहीं) वाद में साक्ष्य होंगे और अभिलेख का भाग बनेंगे; किंतु न्यायालय या न्यायालय की अनुज्ञा से वाद का कोई भी पक्षकार, कमिश्नर को निर्दिष्ट किन्हीं बातों या उसकी रिपोर्ट में उल्लिखित किन्हीं बातों के संबंध में अथवा उसकी रिपोर्ट के बारे में या उस रीति के बारे में जिससे उसने अन्वेषण किया है, खुले न्यायालय में उसकी वैयक्तिक रूप से परीक्षा (जिरह) कर सकेगा।
(3) जहां न्यायालय किसी कारण से कमिश्नर की कार्यवाहियों से असंतुष्ट है, वहां वह ऐसी अतिरिक्त जांच किए जाने का निदेश दे सकेगा जैसा वह ठीक समझे।