Commission for scientific investigation
Full Text
(1) Where any question arising in a suit involves any scientific investigation which cannot, in the opinion of the Court, be conveniently conducted before the Court, the Court may, if it thinks it necessary or expedient in the interests of justice so to do, issue a commission to such person as it thinks fit, directing him to inquire into such question and report thereon to the Court.
(2) The provisions of rule 10 of this Order shall, as far as may be, apply in relation to a Commissioner appointed under this rule as they apply in relation to a Commissioner appointed under rule 9.
Plain English Summary
Empowers the court to appoint scientific experts (handwriting, forensic, chemical, metallurgical, or DNA analysts) on commission to investigate technical questions that cannot be conveniently conducted within the courtroom.
Key Legal Elements
- Inconvenience in Court: Scientific test or laboratory process cannot be performed inside the courtroom.
- Broad Scope: Covers disputed signatures, thumb impressions, forged deeds, paternity DNA tests, structural sound tests.
- Incorporation of Rule 10: Scientific report is evidence in the suit; expert can be summoned for cross-examination.
- Independent Expert: Court retains discretion to send materials to a government Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) or private accredited expert.
Practical Note
Forensic and Handwriting Applications: 1. Disputed Signatures / Wills: When disputing execution of an agreement to sell, promissory note, or will, move an application under Rule 10A praying that the questioned signatures be sent along with contemporaneous admitted signatures to the State Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) or an independent handwriting expert. 2. Cross-Examining the Expert: Under Rule 10(2) read with Rule 10A(2), always summon the handwriting expert to cross-examine on methodology (magnification, stroke direction, pen pressure, tremor of fraud).
हिंदी पाठ
(1) जहां किसी वाद में उठने वाले किसी प्रश्न में कोई ऐसा वैज्ञानिक अन्वेषण (Scientific investigation) अंतर्वलित है जो न्यायालय की राय में, न्यायालय के समक्ष सुविधापूर्वक नहीं किया जा सकता, वहां न्यायालय, यदि वह ऐसा करना न्याय के हित में आवश्यक या समीचीन समझता है, तो ऐसे व्यक्ति को जिसे वह ठीक समझे, यह निदेश देते हुए कमीशन निकाल सकेगा कि वह ऐसे प्रश्न की जांच करे और उस पर न्यायालय को अपनी रिपोर्ट दे।
(2) इस आदेश के नियम 10 के उपबंध, जहां तक हो सके, इस नियम के अधीन नियुक्त कमिश्नर के संबंध में वैसे ही लागू होंगे जैसे वे नियम 9 के अधीन नियुक्त कमिश्नर के संबंध में लागू होते हैं।