Report No. 69

Indian Evidence Act, 1872

Contents
Chapter I	Introductory
	Introductory
	Presidency Towns
	Act 2 of 1855-Important provision
	Stephen's Bill
Chapter 2	History of Rules of Evidence in England
I.	Introductory
II.	Documents
III.	Three Leading Rules of Evidence Relating to Documents, Opinion and Hearsay
IV.	Corroboration
V.	Witnesses
VI.	Competence and Compellability
VII.	Self-Incrimination
VIII.	The Accused
IX.	Number of Witnesses
Chapter 3	Scope and Object of Rules of Evidence and their Relation to Judicial Investigation of Facts
	Nature of law of evidence
Chapter 4	Scheme of the Act
	Object of legal proceedings-determination of rights and liabilities
	Important relevant fact
Chapter 5	Preliminary Provisions
	Preliminary Provisions
Chapter 6	Definitions
I.	Introductory
II.	Court-the General Concept
III.	Sovereignty
IV and V.	Definitive Judgment
VI.	Judicial Power or Being Part of the Judiciary
VII.	Power Otherwise Vested in Courts
VIII.	Administrative Courts
IX.	Whether Act Should Apply to Administrative Tribunals
X.	Position in U.S.A. and England as to Court
XI.	Some Statutory Provisions in India as to Administrative Courts
XII.	Judicial and Quasi-Judicial
XIII.	Natural Justice
XIV and XV.	Industrial Tribunals
XVI.	Recommendation as to Court
XVII & XVIII.	Document
XIX.	Evidence
XX.	Fact
XXI and XXII.	Relevant and Proved
XXIII.	Judicial Proceeding
A.	Introductory
B.	Case Lazy Under the Evidence Act
C.	Definitions in other Acts
D.	Definition Suggested by Mayne
E.	Queries Raised with Reference to Mayne's Definition
F.	English Act of 1968
G.	Conclusion
XXIV and XXV.	Section 4
Appendix	Extract of Section 18 of the Civil Evidence Act, 1968 (English}
Chapter 7	Relevant Facts-the General Provisions: Sections 5 to 11
	Facts in issue
	Declarations
	English authorities
	Complaints
	Introductory
	Scientific evidenc
	Term 'conduct
	Silence when explained
	Limits to the rule
	Illustration
	Identity and similar facts
	Section 10
I and II.	Introductory
III.	Criminal Conspiracy-English Law
IV.	Conspiracy as a Tort'
V.	Certain Important Aspects of Section 10
VI.	Section 10 as Covering Acts beyond Common Purpose
VII.	Position in U.S.A.
VIII.	Present Position
IX.	No Change
	Section 11
I.	Introductory
II.	Illustrative Cases
III.	Facts Suggesting an inference
IV.	Statement how far relevant
V.	Question of Amendment Considered
Chapter 8	Relevancy in Particular Cases
	Introductory
	Principles of damages matters of substantive law
	Breach of contract of marriage
	Compensation in criminal court
	Section 13
I.	Introductory
II.	Judgments
III.	English Law as to Judgments
IV.	Statements
V.	Rights
VI.	Recommendations
I.	Provision Permitting Evidence
II.	The Restriction
III.	Illustrations
	Similar facts
Chapter 9	Admissions and Confessions
	Section 17
	Introductory
	Scheme of the sections
	Section 18
	Introductory
	Section 18, third paragraph sub-paragraph (1)
	Section 18, third paragraph
	Section 19
	Section 19-Introductory
	Section 20
	Introductory
	Section 21
	Introduction
	Reasons for departure from English law
	Section 23
	Admission in civil cases, when relevant
Chapter 10	Confessions-general Discussion and Scheme
	Introductory
	Importance of voluntary character
	History
	Dixon J.'s observations as to self-incrimination
	Discretionary basis
	Due process a broad umbrella
Appendix 1,2	Section 162, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
Appendix 3	Section 164, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
Appendix 4	Judges' Rules (England)
Chapter 11	Confessions and Admissions-sections 24 to 31
	Section 24
	Negative form
	Section 27
I.	Introductory
II.	Doctrine of Confirmation
III.	History
IV.	Constitutional Aspects
V.	Relationship with other sections
VI and VII.	Other Points
	Section 29
I and II.	Introductory
III.	Relationship with section 164, Code of Criminal Procedure
	Section 30
	Introductory
	Position in England
Appendix I and II	Section 164, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
Chapter 12	Statements Made under Special Circumstances by Persons who Cannot be Called as Witnesses
I.	Introductory
II.	Section 32(1), Opening Paragraph-various Situations
III and IV.	Section 32(1)-opening Paragraph-other Points
V.	Section 32(1)
VI.	Revised Section 32(1)
VII.	Section 32(3)
A.	Introductory
B.	Recitals of Boundaries
C.	Selected Cases as to Recitals of Boundaries
D.	Comments on the Case Law
E and F.	Statement of Boundary not Against Interest
G.	English Law
H.	Other Points
I and VIII.	Recommendation
IX.	Section 32(5) and 32(6)
X.	Section 32(7)
XI.	Section 32 (8)
Chapter 13	Entries in Books of Account
I.	Introductory
II and III.	Previous Law and English Law and Roman Law
IV.	Corroboration
V and VI.	Interpretation and Procedure
Chapter 14	Entries in Public Records and other Published writings
I.	Introductory
II and III.	English Law
IV.	Illustrations
V and VI.	Other Provisions
VII.	Other Published Writings-Section 36
VIII.	Section 37
IX.	Section 38
Chapter 15	How much of a Statement to be Proved Section 39
	Introductory
	Statutory provisions in the U.S.A
	No discretion under section 161
Chapter 16	Judgments
	Section 40
	Introductory
I.	Introductory
II.	Orders in Lunacy
III.	Orders Refusing Probate
	Section 42
	Introduction
I and II.	General Rule
III.	Criticism of The General Rules offences also
IV.	English Act of 1968
V to VII.	Case Law on the English Act of 1968
	Section 43,43A
	Section 43,43A
	Section 44
I and II.	Introductory and Fraud
III.	Perjury
IV.	Waiver of Objection to Jurisdiction
V and VI.	A Verbal Point
	Gross Negligence of Guardian and its Effect on Judgment
I.	The Problem
II.	The Case Law
III and IV.	English Law
V.	Need for Amendment and Possible Objections
VI.	Summary
Chapter 17	Opinion of Experts
I.	Introductory
II and III.	Cognate Provisions
IV to VI.	Questions for Consideration
VII.	Who Can Summon Experts
VIII.	Questions to be Put to Experts
IX and X	Notice
Chapter 18*	Foreign Law
I.	Introductory
II and III.	Varieties of Processes
IV.	Procedure
V to VIII.	Constitutionality of Foreign Law
Chapter 19*	Opinion Evidence-Other Provisions
	Sections 46,47
	Sections 48 to 51
Chapter 20*	Character
	Sections 52-55
	Sections 53 to 55
Chapter 21	Judicial Notice
I.	Introductory
II and III.	Scope and Effect of Judicial Notice
IV.	Section 57(1)
V and VI.	Section 57(2) to 57(7)
Chapter 22	Certificate of the Government as to Certain Matters Concerning International Relations
I and II.	Introductory
III and IV.	Provision in the Code of Civil Procedure as to Recognition of Foreign States
V to VII.	Effect of the Certificate
Chapter 23	Facts Admitted
	Section 58
	Principle of section 58
Chapter 24	Oral Evidence-general Discussion
	Section 59
	Introductory
Chapter 25	Oral Evidences-hearsay
	Section 60
I.	Introductory
II and III.	Real Evidence
IV and V.	Section Mandatory
VI.	Importance of Fact Being Relevant
VII and VIII.	Documents
Chapter 26	Hearsay-Whether Basic Changes Needed
I.	Introductory
II.	Various Definitions of Hearsay
III.	Rationale of the Rule-schematic Presentation
IV.	Weakness
V and VI.	Rule Stated In Terms of Relevancy
VII to IX.	Constitutional Aspect
X.	Trends in Reform and Conclusion
Chapter 27	Documentary Evidence-The General Scheme
	Documentary Evidence-The General Scheme
Chapter 28	Primary Evidence
	Section 62
	Primary evidence
Chapter 29	Secondary Evidence
	Section 63
I.	Introduction
II.	Scope of Secondary Evidence-Sections 63 and 65
	Minute of Dr. Tripathi and Shri Mitra Regarding Recommendations Relating to section 63 of the Act
	Minute of Shri Dhavan Opposing the Proposal to Amend sections 63 and 65 of the Act
III to V.	Various Clauses Considered
Chapter 30	Secondary Evidence when Admissible
	Section 64 and 65
I and II.	Introductory
III to V.	Clause (a)-Person Legally Bound
VI and VII.	Clauses (d) to (g)
Chapter 31	Proof of Signature
	Section 67
	Proof of Signature
Chapter 32	Attested Documents
	Sections 68-72
I.	General
II.	Section 68-The Principal Question
III.	Section 68-Some Matters of Detail
IV and V.	Redraft
	Section 70
Chapter 33	Comparison of Signature by the Court
	Section 73
I to III.	Introductory
IV.	Section 73-First Paragraph
V to VII.	Section 73-Second Paragraph
Chapter 34	Public Documents and Private Documents
	Sections 74 and 75
I and II.	Public Documents-Importance
III to VI.	Meaning of Documents Forming Acts
Chapter 35	Certified Copies
	Sections 76-77
I and II.	Section 76-Introduction
III and IV.	tatutory Provisions
V.	Confidential Documents
VI and VIII.	Other Points Concerning section 76
Appendix	Provisions in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 as to Inspection Etc. of Certain Documents
Chapter 36	Public Documents-Proof by other Modes
	Section 78
	Section 78(3)-Recommendation
Appendix 1	Extracts of the Relevant Provisions of the English Acts of 1868 and 1882
Chapter 37	Presumptions as to Documents
	Section 79
I.	Presumptions as to Documents-General
II.	Section 79-Jammu and Kashmir
Chapter 38	Presumptions as to Record of Evidence
	Section 80
I and II.	Introductory
III to V.	Dying Declarations
Chapter 39	Presumptions as to Certain Official Documents
	Sections 81 to 84
Chapter 40	Miscellaneous Presumptions as to Documents
	Sections 85 to 89
	Sections 85,86
	Sections 88,89
Chapter 41	Ancient Documents
	Section 90
I and II.	Introduction and Conditions
III and VI.	Computation of the Period
VII.	Recommendation
Chapter 42	Exclusion of Oral Evidence-in Substitution for Documentary Evidence
	Section 91
I and II.	Introductory
III to VI.	Utility of the section
VII and VIII.	Depositions
Chapter 43	Variation of Documentary Evidence by other Evidence
	Section 92
I.	Introductory
II.	Want of Symmetry
III to V.	Position in England
VI to VIII.	Section 92-the First Five Provisos
Chapter 44	Evidence for Interpretation of Documents
	Sections 93-100
	Sections 93 to 96
	Sections 97 to 100
Chapter 45	Burden of Proof
	Sections 101-104
I to III.	Introduction
IV and VI.	Scheme of sections 101-104
Chapter 46	Burden of Proof
	Exceptions to Criminal Liability-Section 105
I to III.	Introductory
IV.	Quantum of Proof
V.	Conclusion
Chapte 47	Fact Especially within a Party's Knowledge
	Section 106
I to III.	Introductory
IV and V.	English Law
Chapte 48	Presumption of Life
	Section 107
	Presumption of Life
Chapte 49	Presumption of Death
	Section 108
I and II.	Introductory
III and IV.	Absence for less than Seven Years
Chapte 50	Proposed New Section
	Section 108A-commorientes
I to III.	Introductory
IV and V.	Hindu Law and Muslim Law and English Law
VI to X.	Need for Change
Chapter 51	Partnership, Tenancy and Agency
	Section 109
Chapter 52	Possession
	Section 110
	Possession
Chapter 53	Good Faith Section 111
	Good Faith Section 111
Chapter 54	Presumption of Legitimacy
	Section 112
I and II.	Introductory
III and IV.	Legitimacy
V to VIII	Roman Law and Civil Law
VIII and IX.	Rebuttal
X and XI.	Blood Group Evidence
Chapter 55	Cession of Territory
	Section 113
Chapter 56	Presumptions-discretionary and Rebutting
	Section 114
I and II.	Introductory
III and V.	Illustration (a),(b)
VI to IX.	Illustration (d) to (i)
Chapter 57	Estoppel Section 115
I to III.	Introductory
IV to VI.	Promissory Estoppel
Chapter 58	Rule Excluding Evidence of title
	Section 116
I to III.	Introductory
IV and VI.	Limitations of the section
VII to IX.	Attornment
Chapter 59	Estoppel of Acceptor of Bill, Bailee or Licensee
	Section 117
Chapter 60	Competence and Compellability-General Rule
	Sections 118-119
	Competence and Compellability-General Rule
Chapter 61	Parties and Their Spouses
	Section 120
I and II.	Introductory
III and IV.	Position of Spouse of the Accused
Chapter 62	Privilege and Disability-general Observations
	Introductory
	Balancing
Chapter 63	Judicial Privilege
	Judicial Privilege
Chapter 64	Marital Privileges
	Section 122
I to III.	Introductory
IV and VII.	Limitations-Third Person Not Privileged
VIII to X.	Law in U.S.A
Chapter 65	State Privilege
	Section 123
I and II.	Introductory
III.	Essential Conditions
IV and V.	Affairs of State
VI to VII.	Procedure
IX	Position in U.S.A
X and XI.	Other Countries
XII.	Points for Amendment
XIII and XV.	National Security
Chapter 66	Communications in Official Confidence
	Section 124
I and II.	Introductory
III to V.	Points for Amendment
Chapter 67	Information as to Offences
	Section 125
I and III.	Introductory
IV to VI.	American Law
Chapter 68	Legal Professional Privilege
	Sections 126-129
I.	Introduction
II.	Rationale
III and IV.	Section 126-Principle and Scope
V and VI.	Suggested New Exception
VII to IX.	Section 126-Some Points of Detail
Chapter 69	Incriminating Documents and Title Deeds
	Sections 130 and 131
I to III.	Introductory
IV and V.	Recommendation as to Section 130
Chapter 70	Incriminating Questions
	Section 132
I and II.	Introductory
III.	Two Doctrines
IV and V.	English Law
VI and VII.	Position of the Accused
VIII andIX.	Proviso-The Meaning of "Compulsion"
Chapter 71	Privilege of Family Counsellors
	Section 132A
Chapter 72	Patent Agents
	Section 132B
Chapter 73	Accomplice Evidence
	Section 133 and Section 114, Illustration (u)
I to III.	Introductory
IV and V.	Meaning and English Law
VI.	Entrapment
VII.	Recommendation
Chapter 74	Minimum Number of Witnesses
	Section 134
I and II.	Introductory
III.	Present English Law
IV and VII.	Previous Law in India
Chapter 75	Order of Examination of Witnesses
	Section 135
Chapter 76	Determination of Questions as to Admissibility
	Section 136
Chapter 77	Examination and Cross-Examination
	Sections 137-138
I to III.	Introductory
IV and V.	Cross-Examination wider Than Direct Examination
VI and VII.	Co-defendants and Co-accused
Chapter 78	Cross-Examination-who can be Cross-Examined
	Sections 139 and 140
Chapter 79	Leading Questions
	Sections 141 to 143
	Introductory
	Leading questions in cross-examination of favourable witness
Chapter 80	Matters in writing used in Examination
	Section 144
Chapter 81	Contradiction of Witnesses
	Section 145
I and II.	Introductory
III and IV.	English Law
V to VII.	Points for Consideration-Oral Statements
Chapter 82	Impeaching the Credit
	Sections 146 and 147
Chapter 83	Cross-Examination as to Credit-the Powers of the Court
	Section 148
I and II.	Introductory
III.	Legislative Precedents
IV.	Position in U.S.A
V and VI.	Recommendations as to Accused
Chapter 84	Objectionable Question in Cross-Examination
	Section 149
	Section 150
	Sections 151,152
Chapter 85	Contradiction as to Matters Affecting Credit
	Section 153
	Contradiction as to Matters Affecting Credit
Chapter 86	Cross-Examination of One's own Witness
	Section 154
I and II.	Introductory and English Law
III.	Question of Effect
Chapter 87	Impeachment of Credit of Witnesses
	Section 155
I.	Introductory
II.	Section 155(1) to 155(4)
III.	Recommendation
Chapter 88	Corroborative Evidence and Re-Establishing Credit
	Sections 156-157 and Proposed Section 157A
	Significance
	Principle
	Rationale
	Section 157-Meaning of "competent to investigate"
Chapter 89	Credit of Declarants other than witnesses
	Section 158
Chapter 90	Refreshing the Memory of witness
	Section 159
Chapter 91	Evidence with Reference to Past Memoranda
	Section 160
Chapter 92	Rights of Adverse Party with Reference to writings used as Aids to or Substitutes for Memory
	Rights of Adverse Party with Reference to writings used as Aids to or Substitutes for Memory
Chapter 93	Production of Documents
	Section 162
Chapter 94	Documents Produced After Notice and Inspected
	Section 163
Chapter 95	Documents Not Produced After Notice
	Section 164
Chapter 96	Power of the Judge
	Section 165
Chapter 97	Jury and Assessors
	Section 166
Chapter 98	Improper Admission or Rejection of Evidence
	Section 167
Chapter 99	Discretion of the Judge
	Discretion of the Judge
Chapter 100	Conclusion
	Various aspects of the law of evidence
	What can be proved
	Position in England
	Note of Dissent of Shri Sen-Varma
	Should the Word Admissible be Substituted for the word Relevant in Certain Sections of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872? (1)
	Should the Word Admissible be Substituted for the word Relevant in Certain Sections of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872? (2)
	Note of Dissent of Shri Mitra
	Regarding Recommendations Relating to Section 23 and Section 68 of the Evidence Act