Commission for examination of any person resident within the local limits of the jurisdiction of the Court
Full Text
Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, any court may, in the interest of justice or for the expeditious disposal of the case or for any other reason, issue commission in any suit for the examination, on interrogatories or otherwise, of any person resident within the local limits of its jurisdiction, and the evidence so recorded shall be read in evidence.
Plain English Summary
Non-obstante provision inserted by Act 46 of 1999 empowering courts to appoint Court Commissioners to record oral evidence and cross-examinations of any resident witness for expeditious disposal and decongestion of trial court dockets.
Key Legal Elements
- Non-Obstante Clause: Overrides limitations contained in Rules 1 to 4 regarding illness or official exemption.
- Twin Objectives: (a) In the interest of justice, (b) Expeditious disposal of civil suits.
- Applicability to Resident Witnesses: Normal, healthy, local witnesses can be directed to be examined on commission.
- Full Evidentiary Validity: The evidence so recorded by the Commissioner is read directly in evidence without fresh examination.
Practical Note
Doctrine of Advocate Commissioner for Evidence: 1. Supreme Court Landmark: In Salem Advocate Bar Association v. Union of India (2005) 6 SCC 344, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of Rule 4A, affirming that trial judges may outsource the recording of cross-examination to retired judges or senior advocates to unclog court dockets. 2. Audio-Video Recording: Parties can request the court to permit videography of the commission proceedings to capture witness demeanour under Order XVIII Rule 4 read with Rule 4A.
हिंदी पाठ
इन नियमों में किसी बात के होते हुए भी, कोई भी न्यायालय, न्याय के हित में या मामले के शीघ्र निपटारे के लिए (Expeditious disposal) अथवा किसी अन्य कारण से, अपनी अधिकारिता की स्थानीय सीमाओं के भीतर निवास करने वाले किसी भी व्यक्ति की, परिप्रश्नों पर या अन्यथा परीक्षा के लिए किसी भी वाद में कमीशन निकाल सकेगा, और इस प्रकार अभिलिखित किया गया साक्ष्य वाद में साक्ष्य के रूप में पढ़ा जाएगा।