LAW OF EVIDENCE

UNDERGRADUATE – V SEMESTER

SESSION 2023-24
August - December

FACULTY

SHUBHAM SRIVASTAVA

National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi

Ranchi (Jharkhand)
INDIA
2023

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OBJECTIVE

The Law of Evidence is primarily an adjective law which supports both civil and criminal
procedure. It primarily deals with the proving and disproving of the facts in the court. The
primary objective of evidence law is to maintain law and order in society and to protect the
life and liberty of people by providing a systematic pattern of proof in both civil and
criminal matters. It is for this reason that people place their ultimate reliance on this branch
of law for protection against all injuries that human conduct can inflict on individuals and
institutions. Due to these reasons, the evidence law cannot afford to be weak, ambiguous or
ineffective. Nor can it be harsh and arbitrary in its impact. The application of evidence law
has to be uniform regardless of any discrimination on the grounds of class, caste, religion,
sex or creed etc., of either the criminal or the victim. Similarly, in the case of civil matters
also, it is all about proof of the cause of action by the plaintiff and disproving the same by
the defendant.
PEDAGOGY

The interactive approach during the course of learning (Students are supposed to come
prepared for the topics for discussion in the class/ case studies/ Presentations). The main
tools of teaching may be summarized as under:
• Lectures with Question and Answer Sessions
• Case Law Analysis
• Class Participation
• Project work

EVALUATION
Description Weightage Schedule

1. Mid Term Exam 20% Academic Calendar

2. End Term Exam 50% Academic Calendar

3. Project 30% To be notified

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 COURSE OUTLINE
It has Eight modules which are as follows:

MODULE I: INTRODUCTION

• Introduction to the Course

• Law of Evidence as Procedural law and substantive law
• Meaning of Evidence, Document, Proved, Disproved, not proved
Recommended Readings

• John Jay Mckelvey, Handbook on the Law of Evidence, Ch. 1- Introductory

• The Law of Evidence, by Ratanlal & Dhiraj Lal, p21-32
• The Law of Evidence, by S. Sarkar, p11-19
• Wigmore on Evidence, by Henry Wigmore, p17-31

MODULE II: RELEVANCY OF FACTS

• Relevant Facts and Facts in issue

• May Presume, Shall Presume and Conclusive Proof
• Kinds of Evidence
• Relevancy and admissibility
• Facts introductory, explanatory, identity, time, place and relations
• Res Gestae, Occasion, Cause, Effect, Motive, Preparation, Conduct, Alibi etc.
• Facts establishing right, duty or custom
• Facts helpful in determining damages
• Facts showing the state of Mind
• Course of Business
Recommended Readings:

• The Law of Evidence, by Ratanlal & Dhiraj Lal, p31-339

• The Law of Evidence, by S. Sarkar, p19-409
• Wigmore on Evidence, by Henry &Wigmore, p31-439

MODULE III: ADMISSION AND RELEVANCY

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 • Who can make Admissions, Proof of Admissions
• Against the Persons making them and Admissions in civil cases (Sections 17-23,
31).
Recommended Readings:
• The Law of Evidence, by Ratanlal & Dhiraj Lal, p340-497
• The Law of Evidence, by S. Sarkar, p410-661
• Wigmore on Evidence, by Henry & Wigmore, p440-591
MODULE IV: CONFESSION AND RELEVANCY

• Confession
• Confession to police
• Retracted Confession
• Discovery Statement
• Confession by Co-accused
Recommended Readings:

• The Law of Evidence, by Ratanlal & Dhiraj Lal, p498-583

• The Law of Evidence, by S. Sarkar, p662-798
• Wigmore on Evidence, by Henry & Wigmore, p592-694

MODULE V: DYING DECLARATION AND RELEVANCY

• Dying Declaration and its relevancy

• Forms of Dying Declaration: Oral, Written, Gestures & Signs, Thumb
impression, Incomplete and Question Answers.

Recommended Readings:

• The Law of Evidence, by Ratanlal & Dhiraj Lal, p584-717

• The Law of Evidence, by S. Sarkar, p799-957
• Wigmore on Evidence, by Henry & Wigmore, p695-801

MODULE VI: DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE

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 • Primary and Secondary Evidence.
• Proof and Genuineness of Documents.
• Exclusion of Oral by documentary Evidence
Recommended Readings:

• The Law of Evidence, by Ratanlal & Dhiraj Lal, p718-991

• The Law of Evidence, by S. Sarkar, p958-1258
• Wigmore on Evidence, by Henry & Wigmore, p802-1030

MODULE VII: PRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE AND BURDEN OF PROOF

• Burden of Proof
• Estoppels
• Competence of Witnesses
• Privileged Communications
• Accomplice Evidence
Recommended Readings:

• The Law of Evidence, by Ratanlal & Dhiraj Lal, p992-1390

• The Law of Evidence, by S. Sarkar, p1259-1731
• Wigmore on Evidence, by Henry & Wigmore, p1031-1351

MODULE VIII: EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES

• Types of Examinations.

• Leading Question
• Hostile Witness
• Refreshing Memory
• Questions which can be asked during Different Types of Examinations.
Recommended Readings:
• The Law of Evidence, by Ratanlal & Dhiraj Lal, p1391-1789
• The Law of Evidence, by S. Sarkar, p1732-2072
• Wigmore on Evidence, by Henry &Wigmore, p1352-1559

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 IMPORTANT CASES

S. No. Name Citation

1. Queen Empress v. Abdullah (1885) 7 All. 385(F.B.)

2. Pakla Narayan Swamy v. Emperor AIR 1939 PC 47

3. Mirza Akbar v. Emperor, AIR 1940 PC 176

4. Pulukuri Kottaya v. Emperor AIR 1947 PC 67

5. Palvinder Kaur v. State of Punjab AIR 1952 SC 354

6. Kashmira Singh v. State of Madhya Pradesh AIR 1952 SC 159

7. Nishikant Jha v. State of Bihar 1959 SCR 1033

8 Badri Rai v. State of Bihar AIR 1958 SC 953

10 Khushal Rao v. State of Bombay AIR 1958 SC 22

11 State of UP v. DeomanUpadhyay AIR 1960 SC 1125

13 Aghnoo Nagesia v. State of Bihar AIR 1966 SC 119

14 Ratten v. R (1971) 3 All ER 801

15 R. M. Malkani v. State of Maharashtra AIR 1973 SC 157

16 Ram Narain v. State of U.P. (1973) 2 SCC 86

17 Bishwanath Prasad v. Dwarka Prasad AIR 1974 SC 117

18 Veera Ibrahim v. State of Maharashtra AIR 1976 SC 1167

20 Dagadu v. State of Maharashtra AIR 1977 SC 1579

21 Ramanathan v. State of Tamilnadu AIR 1978 SC 1201

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 22 Dudh Nath Pandey v. State of Uttar Pradesh AIR 1981 SC 911

23 Sharad Birdhi Chandra Sarada v. State of AIR 1984 SC 1622

Maharashtra

24 Kartar Singh v. State of Punjab (1994) Cri. LJ 3139

25 Central Bureau of Investigation v. V.C. Shukla AIR 1998 SC 1406

26 State of Maharashtra v. DamuGopinathShinde (2000) Cr LJ 2301 (SC)

27 Uka Ram v. State of Rajasthan (2001) 5 SCC 254

28 Surendra Singh Rautela v. State of Bihar AIR 2002 SC 260

29 Mohd. Khalid v. State of W.B. (2002) 7 SCC 334

30 Jayantibhai Bhenkerbhai v. State of Gujarat (2002) 8 SCC 165

31 Patel Hiralal Joitaram v. State of Gujarat (2002) 1 SCC 22

32 Bodhraj v. State of J. & K (2002) 8 SCC 45

Laxman v. State of Maharashtra (2002) 6 SCC 710

33 Sudhakar v. State of Maharashtra (2000) 6 SCC 671

34 Union of India v. Ibrahim Uddin and Anothers (2012) 8 SCC 148

35 Shankar Kisan Rao Khade v. State Of (2013) 5 SCC 546

Maharashtra

36 Dipanwita Roy v. Ronobroto Roy 2013 SCC OnLine 1300

37 Nandlal Wasudeo Badwaik v. Lata Nandlal 2014 SC (CRIMINAL

Badwaik & Anr APPEAL NO.24 OF 2014)

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 38 State of Gujarat v. Jayrajbhai Punjabhai Varu (2016) 14 SCC 151

39 State of Assam v. Ramen Dowarah (2016) 3 SCC 19

40 State of Haryana v. Ram Mehar& Others Etc. (2016) 8 SCC 762

Etc

41 A Mukesh & Others v. State for NCT of Delhi (2017) 6 SCC 1

& Ors.

42 Md. Sajjad @ Raju @ Salim v. State of West (2017) 11 SCC 150

Bengal

43 Raj Kumar @ Raju v. State (Nct Of Delhi), (2017) 11 SCC 160

44 Nagendra Shah v. State of Bihar 2021 SCC OnLine SC 717

45 Gumansingh alias Lalo alias Raju Bhikhabhai 2021 SCC OnLine SC 660
Chauhan v. State of Gujarat

46 Union of India v. S. Narasimhulu Naidu 2021 SCC OnLine SC 644

47 Manjeet Singh v. State of Haryana 2021 SCC OnLine SC 632

50 State of Kerala v. K. Ajith 2021 SCC OnLine SC 510

51 Gurmeet Singh v. State of Punjab (2021) 6 SCC 108

52 Satbir Singh v. State of Haryana (2021) 6 SCC 1

53 Jayamma & Another v. State of Karnataka (2021) 6 SCC 213

54 Krishna Lal Chawla & Others v. State of (2012) 5 SCC 435

Uttar Pradesh & others

55 V. N. Patil v. K Niranjan Kumar & Others (2021) 3 SCC 661

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 56 Shivaji Chintappa Patil v. State of (2012) 5 SCC 626
Maharashtra

57 Hari Om v. State of UP (2021) 4 SCC 345

REFERENCE MATERIALS
TEXTBOOKS
S. No. Text Book Web Links
1 Sarkar, M.C. and Sarkar, S.C., Part I
2004. Sarkar's law of evidence https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dbqQrLstngYd0
in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, yManwKlxGc1IKZPCRW0/view?usp=sharing
Burma & Ceylon Wadhwa and Part II
Company. https://drive.google.com/file/d/13dPik6uoXNd4k
qFoImlhE-sfxKL9o6Kf/view?usp=sharing
2 Ali, S.A. and Woodroffe, J.G., Volume I
2019, The Law of Evidence, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ah22coL96jtZR
Lexis Nexis kZdt_ulCk86sZUkED8r/view?usp=sharing
Volume II
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18ZzQJLNsXs2_
_KIG9Xn9LvE_PBRdO---/view?usp=sharing
Volume III
https://drive.google.com/file/d/109ix9xLtcbJeT5
JT6d1JONGIIW14gjFA/view?usp=sharing
Volume IV
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11sTytQ_MLJxv
3fm0z8I6eHLtMbgS2anp/view?usp=sharing

3 Halsbury’s Laws of India Part I

(Evidence), LexisNexis https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tV8_ajQwOmp
D4GYSefI1cxvCDe7LlEOM/view?usp=sharing

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 Part II
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IOcP-
mptxv8eXgyvsPQREJ5a_wgIw3Lf/view?usp=s
haring
Part III
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fYO6tGzYeH2
WhVhOdDklQqq3qSCgfIIW/view?usp=sharing
Part IV
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AauCEW7rj6hh
s29VtxJWRA94qdoZoNzq/view?usp=sharing
Part V
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S7h2sDU2I__v_
PP-xvSNDwvAwlcxrkmB/view?usp=sharing
Part VI
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yNA56S9k3Lgq
lkHsl3oXCmSrnxLc0dVU/view?usp=sharing
Part VII
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UgicK-
3QScoX9dJlB4eufjUeygPQ1z-
5/view?usp=sharing
4 Ratanlal & Dhirajlal, 2019, The Part I
Law of Evidence; LexisNexis https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-uR_KBU4-
u0bcbemOzDhQtvM3rtE64Kj/view?usp=sharin
g
Part II
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U_n4LRBIoi2x8
xLZ5G1Ix1ZGwK99fEpP/view?usp=sharing
5 Ho, H.L., 2008. A philosophy of https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fNKoFCDW5A
evidence law: Justice in the uHOlfkhNdhe9WmD1eSzeV-/view?usp=sharing
search for truth. Oxford
University Press

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 6 Stephen, J.F., 1872. The Indian https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WUhNofsGSEb
Evidence Act (I. of 1872): with fsNfLZDh5lH5rZL5rM9VN/view?usp=sharing
an introduction on the
principles of judicial evidence.
Macmillan.
7 Lal, Batuk, Law of Evidence, Reference Book
Lexis Nexis.
8 Sarathi, V.P., Law of Evidence. Reference Book
Eastern Book Company.
9 Monir, M., Textbook on the Reference Book
Law of Evidence Universal Law
Publishing

LAW COMMISSION REPORTS

1. Law Commission of India (Report No. 185), on Review of Indian Evidence Act
1872, (2003)
2. Law Commission of India (Report No. 94), Evidence obtained illegally or
improperly: Proposed Section 166A, Indian Evidence Act 1872.
3. Law Commission of India (Report No. 74), Proposal to amend the Indian Evidence
Act to render admissible certain statements made by witness before commission of
Inquiry and Other Statutory Authorities. (1978)

FOREIGN LAW COMMISSION REPORTS

S. No. Reports Web Links
1 Scottish Law Commission, Evidence https://drive.google.com/file/d/18-wV-
Report on Corroboration, Hearsay WQQ_iZsuMfB85oVaB-
and Related matters in Civil n9ouKA2S8/view?usp=sharing
Proceedings, (SCOT. LAW COM.
NO. 100), 1986
2 England Law Commission, Evidence https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hBrHEXgc
in Criminal Proceedings: Hearsay lV1U-

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 And Related Topics aMmZhN8rb8WcRVwv5_E/view?usp=sha
ring
3 The Law Reform Commission Of https://drive.google.com/file/d/19dOb-
Hong Kong Report Hearsay In hJt99RA8DGvUYWQxVsScSSQ8KYa/vie
Criminal Proceedings, 2009 w?usp=sharing

ARTICLES
S. No. Articles Web Links
1 Sarathi, V.P., 1972. Historical https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IQlkJ7N46
Background of The Indian Evidence 34DwlzQZMjum0HFUc3KitlA/view?usp=
Act, 1872. Journal of the Indian Law sharing
Institute, pp.1-25.
2 Evans, L.G., 1973. Article Eight of http://scholar.valpo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cg
the Federal Rules of Evidence: The i?article=1731&context=vulr
Hearsay Rule. Val. UL Rev., 8, p.261.
3 Nokes, G.D., 1956. Codification of https://drive.google.com/file/d/11saGrMh8
the Law of Evidence in Common iGu5NQRgZr_3pld61hGTFnLO/view?usp
Law Jurisdictions. The International =sharing
and Comparative Law
Quarterly, 5(3), pp.347-363.
4 Goodhart, A.L., 1965. Changing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1T1SQgx6P
Approach to the Law of Evidence, DlsdBsCXXmJlq88esuGe37rp/view?usp=s
A. Va. L. Rev., 51, p.759. haring

5 Tapper, C., 2009. The law of https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QiC5iSiV

evidence and the rule of mRVY1TZ0wJcq25rgshHgA8my/view?us
law. Cambridge LJ, 68, p.67. p=sharing

6 James, G.F., 1940. The Contribution https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KZepKx6

of Wigmore to the Law of XGTacf3vz4NePNQptndZx-

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 Evidence. The University of Chicago 8JL/view?usp=sharing
Law Review, 8(1), pp.78-87.
7 Annual Survey, Indian Law Institute, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v2hyWIkV
2016 0nATvV5ZaKVDUx1J3oCPsRpK/view?us
p=sharing

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