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THE LAW OF EVIDENCE[1]

Table of Contents

SHOT NOTES

Applicability of Evidence Act.
Nature of the Law of Evidence.
Kinds of Evidence.
Law of Evidence is Lea Foxi.

SYNOPSIS

I Adjective (Procedural) Law

Historical background of The Law of Evidence.

III. Nature of the Law of Evidence

Structure of The Law of Evidence:
Law of the Evidence is lex foxi
Applicability of The Law of Evidence (S.1)

I Adjective (Procedural) Law[2]: –

All Laws may be classified into (1) substantive Laws.[3]; and (ii) Adjective (Procedural) Laws.

Substantive Laws are those which define the rights, duties, and liabilities of the parties. Indian Penal Code, Indian Contract Act, the Transfer of Property Act, etc., are instances of substantive law.

Adjective laws define the pleading and procedure by which substantive laws are applied in practice. Civil Procedure Code[4], Criminal Procedure Code[5] and the Indian Evidence Acts are the Adjectives or Procedural Laws.

E.g. 1) A is prosecuted for murder. Here, the punishment provided by the Indian Penal Code in S.302 is either death or imprisonment for life (Substantive Law determining the liability of A and the right of the State to prosecute A).

However, A cannot directly be hanged or sentenced to life imprisonment unless the commission of murder by A is proved. The commission of murder needs to be proved before the Court with the help of Adjective Laws. Thus, the facts that C saw A beating B, D saw A and B moving towards the place, etc., where B’s murder took place, need to be established before the Court. On such established facts, the Court either will convict A for B’s murder or acquit him thereby. Thus, the Court would establish the State’s right of prosecution and liability for ‘A’ for murder or establish the right of A of acquittal.

(2) Similarly, X enters into a contract with Y, promising to sell his house to Y, and Y promises to pay Rs.2,00,000/- to X. On breach of contract by either party, the aggrieved party comes to a Court to get his right established. The rights of the aggrieved party and liability of defaulting party and remedies thereto for breach of contract are provided in the Indian Contract Act (substantive law). However, the Court cannot decide the rights and liabilities of the parties unless the ‘existence of contract’ between X and Y is proved by the procedure prescribed by the procedural law.

(3) If A prosecutes B for defamation, the right and liability and punishment thereto are provided under the Indian Penal Code. However, the Court cannot determine A’s right and B’s liability unless evidence proves that B has defamed A. Similarly, the answers to the questions as to who should offer evidence? and in what manner is evidence to be offered? is provided in the Indian Evidence Act (Adjective Law).

Rules regarding evidence in the administration of justice are very important. Substantive Law can only be enforced with the help of the rules of the Law of Evidence. The Law of Evidence can be called the foundation on which the entire structure of adjudication (judiciary)[6] is based.

II. Historical background of The Law of Evidence.-

Before the passing of the Indian Evidence Act of 1872, the principles of the English law of Evidence were followed by the courts in the Presidency Towns of India. Initially, the Mofussil Mohammedan Law of Evidence was followed. Subsequently, various regulations regarding principles of evidence were passed for the guidance of Mofussil Courts.

In 1855, Act II was passed practically to codify the principles of the Law of Evidence. However, it did not modify the vogue practice of principles of the Law of Evidence in Mofussil Courts. Therefore, in 1868, Sir Henry Maine prepared a Draft Bill of the Law of Evidence, but the bill was abandoned, being not suited to the Indian circumstances. Eventually, in 1871, Mr James Stephen prepared a new draft, which was passed as the Indian Evidence Act in 1872.

III. Nature of the Law of Evidence[7]: –

In Adjective Laws, the Law of Evidence occupies a significant place. In all adjudications (Civil or Criminal) Court –

i) ascertain the existence or non-existence of certain facts and
ii) apply substantive law to those ascertained facts and

iii) declares the rights and liabilities of parties.

The means by which the Courts get informed of the existence of the fact is termed as ‘evidence’. A very important stage in adjudication for the Court is to ascertain correct facts, which can be done through evidence.

Thus, in a petition filed by the wife for divorce on the ground of cruelty, the Court would like to ascertain the following facts correctly, viz-

Whether the petitioner is the wife of the respondent’s husband.
Whether the respondent is exercising cruelty to petitioner
Whether cruelty is of such a nature to justify divorce.

The court will ascertain these facts from the deposition of the petitioner’s wife, Police complaint (if she has lodged), letters eliciting cruelty (if she has written to her parents), depositions of her parents, neighbours, etc.

If the Court, after pursuing evidence on record, comes to the conclusion that cruelty is exercised against the petitioner, it would apply the substantive law of divorce to the facts and declare the right of divorce to the petitioner, imposing relative responsibility on the respondent.

Similarly, if A is accused of causing the murder of B, the facts for ascertainment before the Court would be –

a) Whether there was a quarrel between A and B on the ground of land distribution?
b) Whether before the day of the murder, there was a serious quarrel between them?
c) Did A purchase a knife from C’s shop?
d) Did D see A moving towards B’s farm where B was working?
e) Did E see A stabbing B?

The court will ascertain the existence of these facts from the evidence of C, D, E, etc., and if it comes to the conclusion that A has caused the death of B by stabbing with a knife. The court will apply substantive law, i.e. Indian Penal Code (S.302), and order him punishment for imprisonment for life or death (determining the liability of A for punishment)

The following are the fundamental rules of evidence –

i) Evidence should be confined to the facts in the issue[8].
ii) Hearsay evidence should not be admitted.

iii) Best evidence must be given in all cases.

IV. Structure of The Law of Evidence[9]: –

The Law of Evidence consists of 167 sections.

The provisions of the Act have been divided into three parts: –

Part I –

It contains two chapters, Chapter I deals with preliminary definitions. (S.1 to 4) Chapter II deals with the relevancy of facts and shows how various relevant facts are connected (Ss. 5 to 55).

FACTS WHICH MAY BE PROVED

Facts in Issue[10] (S.5)

Relevant Facts[11] (S.3)

Facts relevant to the issue may be –

a) Connected with the issue (Ss.5 to 6)

b) Admissions (Ss.17 to 31)

c) Statement made by the witness who cannot be called as a witness. (Ss.32 and 33)

d) Statements made under certain circumstances (Ss.34 and 39)

e) Judgments in other cases (Ss.40 and 41)

f) Opinion (S.45 to 51)

g) Character (Ss.52 to 55)

Part II –

It consists of four chapters, i.e. III, IV, V, and VI.

Chapter III – deals with facts that need not be proved (Ss.56 to 58). These are the facts of which the Court takes judicial notice[12].

Chapter IV – deals with oral evidence (Ss.59 to 60)

Chapter V – deals with documentary evidence (S.61 to 90)

Chapter VI- lays down the rules regarding the exclusion of oral by documentary evidence (Ss.91 to 100)

TYPES OF EVIDENCE TO BE GIVEN

Facts which need not be proved

Other facts if in issue or relevant may be proved by

Facts Judicially noticeable

Facts

Admitted[13]

(S.58)

Oral Evidence[14]

(Ss.59 and 60)

Documentary

Evidence[15]

Documentary evidence may be –

a) Primary or Secondary[16] (Ss.61 to 66)
b) Attested or Unattested[17] (Ss.67 to 73)
c) Public and Private documents[18] (Ss.74 to 78)
d) Sometimes presumed to be genuine[19] (Ss.79 to 90)
e) Excludes oral evidence[20] (Ss.91 to 100)

Part III –

This consists of five chapters, viz. VII, VIII, IX, X, and XI.

Chapter VII deals with the ‘burden of proof’ and ‘presumption’ (S.101 – 114)

Chapter VIII deals with the ‘estoppel’ (Ss.115 to 117)

Chapter IX deals with the witnesses who are competent to testify. (Ss.118 to 134)

Chapter X deals with the examination of a witness. (S.135 to 166)

Chapter XI deals with the effect of improper admission and rejection of evidence. (S.167)

PRODUCTION AND EFFECT OF EVIDENCE

Who shall adduce

evidence (Burden of

Proof)[21] (Ss.101 to

114)

Who shall not be

allowed to adduce

evidence (Estoppel

Ss.115 to 117)[22]

How evidence is to

be adduced (Ss.118

to 166)

Consequence of

mistake (S.167)

Information Technology Act, 2000 has also caused some changes and amendments in the Evidence Act.

V. Law of the Evidence is ‘lex fori’[23]: –

The Law of Evidence is lex fori, i.e. the law of the forum or Court in which a case is being tried.

Whether the witness is competent or not, whether certain evidence proves specific facts or not, is to be determined by the Law of the country where the remedy is sought to be enforced and where the Court sits to enforce it. Thus, where the question before the Indian Court was about the proper method of proving an event occurred in England, the Law of Evidence was applicable in India and not in English. (In Niharendu D. Majumdar Vs. Emperor[24]).

Applicability of The Law of Evidence[25] (S.1): –

The Indian Evidence Act of 1872 applies to all judicial proceedings in or before any Court, including court-martials[26] before Indian Marine Courts and Native court-martials. However, it does not apply to: –

i) Affidavits[27] presented to any Court or officer, or
ii) Proceedings before an arbitrator[28].

iii) Court Martial covered under the Army Act, The Naval Discipline Act, The Indian Navy (Discipline) Act, 1934, or The Air Force Act.

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[1] पुराव्याचा कायदा [पुराव्याचा कायदा ]

येथून पुढे काही महत्त्वाच्या इंग्रजी शब्दांचे मराठीत अर्थ दिलेले आहेत. त्याचा उद्देष विद्याथ्र्यांना विषय चांगल्या प्रकारे समजावा एवढाच आहे. मराठी अर्थ हे विषयाला धरुन केले असल्यामुळे ते शब्दकोषाप्रमाणे अगदी बरोबर असतील असे नाही. विद्याथ्र्यांनी अभ्यास करताना विविध मराठी व इंग्रजी शब्दकोष वापरावेत.

[यहाँ से कुछ महत्वपूर्ण अंग्रेजी शब्दों के मराठी और हिंदी’ में उनके अर्थ दिए गए हैं। इसका उद्देश्य छात्रों को विषय को अच्छी तरह से समझाना है। सिर्फ इसलिए कि मराठी अर्थ विषय पर आधारित हैं, , जरूरी नहीं कि वे शब्दकोशों के रूप में सटीक हों। विद्यार्थियों को पढ़ते समय विभिन्न मराठी और अंग्रेजी शब्दकोशों का प्रयोग करना चाहिए। ]

[2] प्रक्रिया/कार्यपध्दती विषयक [प्रक्रियाएं ]

[3] सारभुत तरतुदी असलेला [सभी समावेशी ]

[4] दिवाणी प्रक्रिया संहिता [दिवाणी प्रक्रिया संहिता ]

[5] फौजदारी प्रक्रिया संहिता [आपराधिक प्रक्रिया संहिता ]

[6] नायदानाचे [न्यायदान का]

[7] पुराव्याच्या कायदयाचे स्वरुप [साक्ष्य के कानून की प्रकृति ]

[8] वदातील परिस्थीती/घटना [विवाद में परिस्थितियाँ घटनाएँ ]

[9] पुराव्याच्या कायदयाची रचना [साक्ष्य के कानून की संरचना ]

[10] वादातील परिस्थिती/घटना [विवाद में परिस्थितियाँ घटनाएँ ]

[11] वादातील घटनेशी संबंधीत घटना [विवाद में घटना से संबंधित घटनाएँ ]

[12] न्यायिक दखल [न्यायिक सूचना ]

[13] मान्य असलेला [स्वीकार्य ]

[14] तोंडी पुरावा [मौखिक साक्ष्य ]

[15] कागदोपत्री पुरावा [दस्तावेज़ी प्रमाण ]

[16] प्राथमिक व दुय्यम [प्राथमिक और माध्यमिक ]

[17] साक्षांकित किंवा साक्षांकित नसलेला [अनुप्रमाणित या अनुप्रमाणित ]

[18] सार्वजनिक/सरकारी किंवा खाजगी [सार्वजनिक सरकारी या निजी ]

[19] बरोबर/खरे असल्याचे गृहित धरणे [सही सत्य मान लें ]

[20] कागदोपत्री पुरावा तोंडी पुराव्यास भारी पडतो [दस्तावेजी साक्ष्य मौखिक साक्ष्य से अधिक महत्वपूर्ण हैं ]

[21] शाबित करण्याची जबाबदारी [साबित करने की जिम्मेदारी ]

[22] प्रतिबंधक कबुली [प्रतिबंधात्मक स्वीकारोक्ति ]

[23] जेथे कोर्ट तेथिल कायदा [जहां कानून की अदालत ]

[24] A.I.R. 1942 F.C. 2

[25] पुराव्याच्या कायदयाचे कार्यक्षेत्र [साक्ष्य के कानून का दायरा ]

[26] लष्करी न्यायालय [सैन्य अदालत ]

[27] शपथपत्र [शपथ पत्र ]

[28] लवादापुढील कामकाज [मध्यस्थता से पहले की कार्यवाही ]