THE INDIAN EVIDENCE
ACT, 1872
(CHAP. I)
THE RELEVANCY
OF FACTS
IS.5)
Evidence m.oy bl! given jn
any •uh Or prooc·cdlJ\g of
lhot e,cistence or
non-e~l.:Jl.enel!: of ,;,very ,,.
'" Issue.
(S.61
Facl6 whi.::h, though nol In
iilS\lc,, iilrc •A> c;onncctc-d
with• {act in ,.,.,,..., as lo
form part of lhc aamo,
lr.&n·~ct,on, a'l"e- relev~n•~
(S. 7)
'Factfl which arc, n,.,
ocuslon,. c:~u•~ or rffecl,.
l·n,med'lah! o
olherwis·r, o{ rclrvant iaocl,
o• facts I,> l1J111u;; "'"
rel•vanl.
(S. l'I
J\r,y 1.. c, b ro:lcv•M which
•how• or conslltut
'n1ollvi- or pr<lpauati
any fact In hsu
relevant f.ilct.
1-------------,-_.,.
(S.111
In •ull• In which damag~
are dahned,
any fact whkh wlll
enable lhc Court lo
delermine t.hc amounl of
d•rn•ge·a whlc;h ought to
be award .. dl, I• r,dev.anl.
IS.HJ
Paci• •bowing I.he
c,xl•lence of a,ny at•tc: of
mind, auch •• lnlenUon,
knowledge, good laUh,
negllgc:nc•., raahn•o;•, ill•
wUl.or
good-~vlll IOW'arda an)"
par11c.. 1ar ptt'ro;on, or
•howlng the •><lo;tence o(
""Y •t,.1e of l:>ody QI'
bodily feeling. 11rc
.-elev ant.
PART I
RELEVANCY OF FACTS
ADMISSIONS TATEMENTS Sett n~xt pag~s
[S. 37J
n,ef\t, oral 01' e..,.,.,.,c'fl.••, wr.CCC:'fl OI" When the Court has lo foTm :an
documentary, which 11,ua;g.,.t,. ilTI)' v .. rb.,I, of celevanl f.,.cls n,ade by a opinion•• to lh,r cJ<illlcnc,e of
,n,.. -- as. to any f.1.cc In 11'0!iue or p-rq.o" who 111 dead are lhcm:eclVc-t: any fact of• public nahlr.., any
rc,cv .. nt .filct, and which is mad., by .ony ... 1 .. vaftt f.,.ct!I. when It ~1.-, ... 10 •tat<1:m<1:r1t of it. made in a
of the persons. c:au:,.c of dcalh oras "'"'de ,n co·unc rwcilal conhllncd In any Ac:I of
ofbusln<t P ... 11 a>ncn t I• tii: lc va,n
IS.181
St111emenU m.,.J., by a p:inty lo the (S.331
pro~e.tlng. or by •n aogc,,,I lo any ,nuh .vldcncc gtven by • Whc:n the Court h•• to foHn .an
p,art.y, whom the Court r.,,11,,.rd11. under the ...,Hne•s in a j\ldlc:i;ol proc.,...,dlng. or opinion,.. to" 1 .. w of any
cir;cum-.,lanc:c• o( the c.a:sc-, ais C1;11Cpl'e-ssly O T' bcfoN" .any pcl"IIOn •uthoriu,d by country, any
tmpUedly •uthorJzed by him I<> m.ake J.a..., to tak .. JI, I• ffl.,vant. 11tatemcnt of auch l•w
the1n; .&l'e adrni,.$lun•- cont.alncd ln II book.
(S. 34) parpor:tJ.ng to be pr,lntcd under
(S.'2.01 ntrlca in book• the a .. thorUy :I• N:·1...,ant.
Stiillemcnl• m;odc by pcn;on to whon, a, of account, irtduding tho,a., kcpt In
party to the ... u hllls e1<pn,.,~1y ,.,fcrre,t clcclt"Onlc ,..,...,,., .... g .. 1,uly kepi •n lS.391
for Information in refcrcncc lo .a nuU;,r ,course of busln;,s.s, :are ... tevanl. When any •t•l•m•nl of which
In dlspul cvld•nce I$ glv<1:n forms pal'I of
~(h"iP11o•lon8 .. cs. 3~1 • Ion.get alalC'mcn~ or I•
An entry 1 .. .,.ny put>llc or olher contained ln part of cle<;t ..on·I
(S. 2.1} offkh.l book, '"Kh•tef oor ,c-co«I, RConl, cvldenC't! shall be given
Admla!ltnn& aro;, •rlcv,1nl ;and maoy be •••HnK • fad •n l•sue or 'Nlhevant of •o n.uch and no m<>rc of du,
proved •• ag;alnst the p<'nion who ,n.,ke fact, 1111 lbelf • •el.,.v•nt h,<;t. tatcmcnl, documotnl or
then,, or hi• repn,s.,nto,livc, in lnt.,r;,.st.
r-•I .ad11nh~lQr1 ·ontenls of"'
document And :f"\,•COl'dS .If' ....
00
($. 2_,;J ~
No confe1,slon
,nade to• p,;,Uce-orOcc.- shall b.., proved
a& aga,lnsl"' per1iOI\
a«u .. cd o( a,ny off.en
->
-
.!.,

I PARTI
Judgments
l
(S.40)
The existence of any
judgment, order or decree
which by law prevents
any Cou11 from t.iking
oogniLance of a suit or
holding a t.rial, is
relevant fact.
,1
IS.42)
Judgments, orders or
decrees are relevant if they
relate to matters of a
public nature relevant to
the enquiry; but such
judgments, orders or
decrees are not conclusive
proof of that which·
they state.
CHAP.V
DOCUMENTARY
EVIDENCE
(S.611
The: conte:nt• of dO<Vm~nU
inay be proved cillher by
prinury or by ae<.ond.11ry
rvldt?.n.c::e.
(S.62)
Prim.Ary evidu,ce: m.e.uu
the doaunent ic.df
prod uud for the
ln1pc<t.lon ol the CoW1,
(5,631
Sec:IOnd&I)" ev".Jdencc mans
eutified copi.H, counte:rpuct;
ol doalmen ts,. o,-.U a,,co()WJb
ol thit eont.cnt:5 ot .a
doaunent gi"'a, by 5('.NIV
puiiOnwbohimadl haaAft:11
iL
(S.64.J
Document• m1,1.5t be
pro"'e.cl by primary
evtdeece e:xcr:pt ln Ute
caae.• hcrein.dk.r
rncntioncd,
15.65)
Srconduy evld~ce may
be: g-lvr.n of the itld5t<nu,
wndidon or contents. of .11
docume:nl when thte
orlgb,.111 iii of ai\.lch n,ilurr
•• not to be .r•»ily rnovablr
a.mong.t,1 olher CJltr:t
oudlncd Ir, Kctlor, 65.
RELEVANCY OF FACTS
l 0
Opinions
l
(S.45)
When the Court has to
form an opinion
uPon .J. p~i ... t of foreign
law, or of science or art,
the opinions upon that
point of persons specially
skilled in such foreign
1411w, or of science or art,
are relevant facts. Such
person are catled experts.
(S.46)
Facts, not otherwise
relevant, are relevant if
they support or are
inconsistent with the
opinions of experts, when
such opinions are
relevant.
(S.66)
Any lnform.alion
c:ont.ti.ne.c:I In a ,in
rlcctronlc rr.cor-d which Is
printrd on .a paper, stored:,
rite0rdecl or eopiecl in
optic.al or m•gnctic: media
produced by• computer
1hi11l be admiHible:,
(S.67)
If• docwnent b: allrged to
bit 1lg,icd or lo have been
wrlltrn wholly or in p,u1,
by .,.Y pe.r.on t.he-
aJgnahur or handwrhing
of •o mud\ of Lhr:
docu.ment H 11 .tllege.d to
br. ln that pcrtl<ln't:
handwritlng mutt be:
proved to be !n hi•
handwriting,
IS. 71)
If the nte,Ur,g wHnc"
dcnlra. or d.oc• not
r,cc.oUed lhc execution of
e-·xecu.Uon ma)• bit proved
by othcl' evtdence.
~
PARTII
PROOF
.::,-·
<
tr1
:;;:,
$
Character
CHAP. Ill See ~
CHAP.IV next
FACTS WHICH NEED 'Tl
ORAL EVIDENCE pages r
l
IS. 521
NOT BE PROVED
IS. 561 JS.591
~
n
5:
In civil cases the fact that No fact of which the Court All facts, except the
the chauclcr of any will take judicial notice contents of documents, ~
person concerned is such
•S to render probable or
need be proved. may be proved by oral
evidence. 1::r:
improbable any conduct IS. 571 tr1
imputed to him is
irrelevant, except in so far
The Court shall take
judicial notice of all laws
(S. 60)
Or.al evidence rnust, in all
zCJ
as such character in force in the territoty of cases whatever, be direct, s;
appears from facts India. if it refers to a fact which z
otherwise relevant. could be seen, it must be rn
(S.581 the evidence of a witness <
IS. 53 & 53-AI No fact need be proved in who says hes.aw it. 6
rn
In criminal proceedings any proceeding which the z
n
the fact that the person parties thereto or their
tr1
accused is of a good agents agree to admit
character is relevant. at the hearing.
>
Evidence of character or R
previous sexual ~
experience not relevant in ij
certaln cases. ·
' ··-
PARTII
PROOF
+
CHAP.VI
Publk Pre:su.mptions EXCLUSION OF ORAL
Doc::ument·s .1.s to Doaam1!nt5 BY DOCUMENTARY
EVIDENCE
1
(5. 74)
1
(5.79)
1
(S.841
l
IS. 911
Document» Conn ing lhc The Court The Court shall presume \Vhcn 1hr t..erm:J of a.
•dt or records of the .act• •hall presume (gcnuint.) the ge-nulnc:ne•j: of every contuict, 01 of a
of the ,overelgn .authority, e-vcry document book purport ins to be grant, or of any othcr
offldal bodies a,id purpol"llng 10 be .:11 printed or publi~hcd under- disposition of
tribunah, etc., .arc public ccrtific,1,tc, <"crllffcd copy the ;JUthority of the property, have be-en
documi!nt.s, or olhe-r dceument, which Covcmment ur .1cny cou.nh')', rcduttd to the forrn
15 by J.11.w ded.ar..ed to be •nd to contain .any of the of a document, no
IS. 771 ~dmiull,lit .at evldcnc:e uf l.1.wll: of !hat evidence sh.1U be
~rtifird copiH nu,y br any pudcular ~.act. country, and of every book given in proof of th~
produced 1n proof of the purporting to contain terms of the contract
amte-nts of the- (S. 81) reports of dcciidons of or di:,.po.sUion ~xcll!'pt
public documrnta or p.11r·1• Court ,hall prcaumc the thie Courts of aut:h eou.nt·ry. the document IC:,elf.
of the pubUc document, gcnuine-nelit of every
of which the-y purport to dO(;umt:,l'lt purportlng to IS.90)
be cople:s. bot: the London Cazclle or, \Vht::tl! .any do~unu!!nl,
Offld.al Cazeue of any purp<n1lnQ o,· pnlvctl to be
colony, dcpende-ncy or thirty yenra old, 15 produced
po••P.ulon of the Brhbh from ""Y 1.--ua,Jody which tlu:
Crow11, or to be .a Court In thr pardculu ca.le
ncw~p.apcr or jou.m:11, If con1ldus proper, the Court
fuch documenl Is kepi may rrc:11urne .Juch
sub»lanll.1.lly In the form do<"Uff'~nt lo be duly
required by Jaw and Iii executed .S.. a11e,1ed b)• the
produced from prope, pe:non• by whom It
C'Ulilody. purport• to be cx~c::u.ted &c
::attesh:d.
[5.90A)
Where .11ny etcetsonfe
record, pu'J)Orting or
proved to be fivc yc.ir• old~
....
00
J:s produeed from any
cu1tody which 1h11' Court Jn ~
the poutic\llt.H caf~ con•ldcr'$
rrnprr. the Cou.rt miay
preaum~ •u<h eteeteonte
algn .. tut'e to be rropt"r.

[CHAP.Vlll
THEBURDl!N
OF PROOF•
[S.• 1021
The burden of proof in "s .. it or
pr<l<'.c.,eding lic.,s on, th,it puson
who would fall If no c,vl,d .. n<:e at
.all wcri.e given on citl1e.'!r 6ide.
[S.1031
The burdc,n of proof as to •m
pan.kular fa<:t lie,o on that pe...,.on
who wishC11 the Court 10 bc,Uc,v., in
ita e>iist~n.c:e.
[S.108)
The •1'"'"""" la whethe•.,. n,an le
au.,., o.- d.,ad, a,nd h io; prnv.,d 1hal
he, has not bc,.,n h.,ard o( for seven
yea ... by those who would
n.alur.,lly have heard of him If h
ha.-f been ~live, lhe burden c,f
proving th,it h., Is alive 111 shifted
to lhe pe~on who aHlrms It.
[S.110)
When the- qu«t'ti.un :ll'i wt,-:Utorir any
per.,,on iOI o-ner of ;anything of
which he, is &hown to be in
pos,...•slon. the burd.,n of J>roving
1hM he ill "ot tJ,c- ow"'C'T is on Che
p,<rson who ,i{fi.-m5 o, .. , he is r,01
the" (}Wftl!I'.
IS.113BI
Wh"n l.h., quest.Ion
w:u:1t.her a pc-Non h•lil <:on1Jmi11a,-d
the dQwry de;alh nf,. worn'"" and ii
is •ho..,n tt, .. 1 S<•on bcfo,., he·r
ti"'"'"""ch worn.on h.ad b.,.,..,
subj.-c1.,d by such prnlon lo
cruelty or har.ai>sm~PI fo:r, Ot' In
co,-,n~,ctlan wltt.,. .111,y demand for
do..,ry, the Cou.-t •h.oll pr~umc,
••••• •uch pc,r...,n h.ad ...... ,..,d the
duwry d.,,.,h,
(CHAP. VHJ1
ESTOPPGL
[S,J"l!il
Whc,r, one p.,rson h.as, by his
d.,cl;or,.Uon, .act Qr omi,islon,
lnt~nlionally eau~ed o,..
p-..rmit1o0d .another p,orson lo
brli"""',. lhlng U) be true .and
to ,0c,t upon suc,h b<'lkf, neilh.,r
h., n,\f his ,-,.,.,.,,..,n,alivc, sh;oll
b,e .allowed.,. in any •uh or
pl'"oc,cedi1>g between
hin,self ,..,d auch pers.on or hi
........... n111Uve, to de,ny th ..
truth of th•t thing.
1.S,1161
No tf:n;ant of ·immov.-bl~
property, or penon cl;a•ming
through auch lenanl, 11h~II,
during the cantlnua,11\te o( th~
•-~-n~nc-y, be- pcrm:i1tcd 10
d.,ny th.at th., landlord of suc,h
ten.ant h.ad, .at the beginning of
the 1c:n.11ocy., .a 1i1le to •ueh
Immovable proverty; .ond no
per$-Qn 'Wlli'ho ican:11!: upon any
hnmo.,;able property by lhe
li<'.,nu of lh., perp;on in
pQ"'"'"nlon lhcr.,of ~hall be
po,rrnitted lo deny th"t 8ucJ,
person had a lith, to
•1.u::h p-os.-cs•ion ail 1hc tim
when •ucl1 li<enC"'C" w•1 R,ivf'n.
PART HI
PRODUCTION AND EFFEcr OF EVIDENCE
(CHAP. JXJ
WffNESSES
[S. 1181
All pc..,Qn" ohall be compet.,nt
lo te6tify uni.,.,,. u,.,
Court
c:on•ld.,,.,. that th"')''"'"
prevcrted from uncte ... tandins
the questions put lo them.
(S. 1 l!ll
A wilnesa who I• un.oblc to
ape•k may give his .,.,ldo,nc,e
in ;any o•hcr m.anneT In whkh
he, un make U lnlclligibl
(S.12,1
No ,one
11h.. 11 be compelled Io disclos
10 the Court any =nfldenllal
c(Jmmun1c.ation which ha
t•ko0n pl.oee bct..,.,en him and
hi, 1 .. g.al profeulon•I .adviser,
ur,I,..• he oUer• him11,elf .a~ a
witntr.ss ..
rs.u:,1
An •ec:ompH..-e sh•ll be a
compet.,,,t witness
..ag~.ins.t oll\ aCCU liC d peT6-0n; .and
• convktlon l,i not 111.,,;11,I
merely brc,;0use h procced
uron the unn,rroborat,od
t~;jUmony of .an Ji.c.< on,pli~c.
I;>, lJ"I
No pu11c.. 1111r nu...-,ber of
witn,es1,e4 shall in any c,1se t,.,
,.,qul,.,d for th., proof of .an
f,1ct.
->-.
-
I
~
(CHAP.XI (CHAP. xn
THE EXAMINATION IMPROPER
ADMISSION
OF WJTNESSES
AND REJECJ"ION
OE EVIOEN
[S.148) IS. 167'1,
When either If ;any q ue:1,tion •el.. tc• to " Thc hnpropeT
p;;,rty propos.,s to give nullcr not r.ele,••nt to U,c auil admi...,.lon or
vldc,nce of any fact, th., Judg., or proce.,dlng, .,,..,...,1
In. s.o br rejection of evldenc,c
may •Ilk tho, p.arty proposing '"" it .. r,.,ct .. lhc c,.,dil o( t.hc shall not be
to give the evid.,n<'"' in wh .. 1 wlmeas by Injuring his gl!'Ound of lts.olf fo~ a
nur,n.,r the alleged fact, il. ch"'""""· the Court $h~II new trtal O'f' rcvc,-...1
proved', would be relevant.. d.,...ide ..,hcth.,r or :not the of ""Y d.,d .. ion In any
wlmo011• ah.all be c,ompeUed to ca ....
1S.U7J an.,:w cr iit..
Th., eo,.amlnation of wi1neH by
,he party who c.oll5 him 51,.oll [S.1511
be .,..11.,d hi• e_,c.amlnatl<.>n-ln- : "'J"he Court may fort.Id any
.;J,lef~ The cx.aTnin~tion of :iii Ii que•lfon• or ;r,qulri,ca which It
witn4'•• by the •dv"""" party :r~g..11rd!I ~11 lnd~~nt or
5h"ll t,.,_ <:all.,d hi" cro••- ,..,_nd.alou.:11, althous-h 'IJUCh
ex.aml;,.;11ililc."l11.~ Tht: 1:x.aminatiQ11 q\le·st;on• or inq\llrle:• m.oy
of .a wltnt!!.il:i, 8,ubfc:qu.:nt 1-0 lhe
1
h.-vc so-rne be~ri"g on the
.,,on-c><•mln.otlon by the party qu.,,.Uow,.a b•fore the Court
wh<> c.all.,d him. sh.all be c,.U.,d unlc,t1S they .-el~tc to (ad•'"
hi:i re-<,11;~min•tio". isin1e.
(S. l<nl lS.'1621
Any quntio., ,.,.ggc,o;ting th-, A wltnc,u sun,moned to
ainsw.,, whie:h the, J>"'rson pr<>duc,., a do«11nent :11hall, If It
putting It wl•h,e;i o, ;,;1<pC<if tu is in hi:,. pONc,11t1!on Or power., 1 1
rea,;.,., ;,. c.olled a leadir\g · bring It to Court,
qua;flion. notwith:111.andlng any obj~c;:tlon
which there, "'"Y be to lt11
lS.1451 produc,lion or to It
A Mri,nceis m~y be croa:a- atJmi.,...ibilit)c The valldhy of
"'""min"d as lo prevlou any such object·ion
ta,lement" m•dc by him in •h•II be decld.,d on by the
wrillng O< reduced lnlo Court.
writing. and ,.,1.,..,..,nl to
tti:AtlC'rS, in q'\IC1JliOn,
without o;uch ..,dUaj; b"lng
tihown 10 him, o, b~,i·ng
proved; bul, if h
lnt .. nd.,d lo contr.adl<:1 him
by th4' wrilins. his ,utenUon
mu,;t, before th., ..,,Hing ca,n
be proved, be <:,illed to lho;i.,
,.,....,. o( it which .. ~.. lo b• u,e,I
for the purpo~e of
·ontradklinA him.