Commission or request to examine witness not within India
Full Text
Where any Court to which application is made for the issue of a commission for the examination of a person residing at any place not within India is satisfied that the evidence of such person is necessary, the Court may issue such commission or a letter of request.
Plain English Summary
Authorizes the trial court to issue a foreign commission or Letter of Request (Letters Rogatory) through diplomatic channels to examine a witness residing outside India whose testimony is indispensable to the suit.
Key Legal Elements
- Foreign Witness Jurisdiction: Applicable to witnesses residing outside India.
- Judicial Satisfaction: Court must be strictly satisfied that the evidence is material and necessary.
- Dual Modalities: Issue of a Commission (where reciprocal bilateral arrangement exists) or Letter of Request (Letters Rogatory) via the Ministry of External Affairs.
Practical Note
Letters of Request vs. Video Conferencing: Historically, Letters Rogatory took months or years to execute through the Ministry of External Affairs. In modern practice, following State of Maharashtra v. Dr. Praful B. Desai (2003) 4 SCC 601 and Video Conferencing Rules, advocates should pray for examination of foreign witnesses via court-monitored Video Conferencing under Indian Consular supervision to eliminate procedural delays.
हिंदी पाठ
जहां किसी ऐसे न्यायालय को, जिससे भारत के भीतर न होने वाले किसी स्थान में निवास करने वाले किसी व्यक्ति की परीक्षा के लिए कमीशन निकालने के लिए आवेदन किया गया है, यह समाधान हो जाता है कि ऐसे व्यक्ति का साक्ष्य आवश्यक है, वहां न्यायालय ऐसा कमीशन या अनुरोध-पत्र (Letter of Request) निकाल सकेगा।