Admissibility of Evidence : Supreme Court Explains the Law

 Admissibility of Evidence : Supreme Court Explains the Law

An interesting Judgment was passed by Hon'ble Supreme Court on 8 October 2003.

It has been commented at page 5 and 6 of R. V. E. Venkatachala Gounder Vs Arulmigu Viswesaraswami & V. P. Temple And Another [2003] GCtR 2898 (SC) thus : - 

"Ordinarily, an objection to the admissibility of evidence should be taken when it is tendered and not subsequently. The objections as to admissibility of documents in evidence may be classified into two classes: (i) an objection that the document which is sought to be proved is itself inadmissible in evidence; and (ii) where the objection does not dispute the admissibility of the document in evidence but is directed towards the mode of proof alleging the same to be irregular or insufficient."

 

"In the first case, merely because a document has been marked as "an exhibit", an objection as to its admissibility is not excluded and is available to be raised even at a later stage or even in appeal or revision. In the latter case, the objection should be taken when the evidence is tendered and once the document has been admitted in evidence and marked as an exhibit, the objection that it should not have been admitted in evidence or that the mode adopted for proving the document is irregular cannot be allowed to be raised at any stage subsequent to the marking of the document as an exhibit."

 

"The latter proposition is a rule of fair play. The crucial test is whether an objection, if taken at the appropriate point of time, would have enabled the party tendering the evidence to cure the defect and resort to such mode of proof as would be regular. The omission to object becomes fatal because by his failure the party entitled to object allows the party tendering the evidence to act on an assumption that the opposite party is not serious about the mode of proof. On the other hand, a prompt objection does not prejudice the party tendering the evidence, for two reasons: firstly, it enables the court to apply its mind and pronounce its decision on the question of admissibility then and there; and secondly, in the event of finding of the court on the mode of proof sought to be adopted going against the party tendering the evidence, the opportunity of seeking indulgence of the court for permitting a regular mode or method of proof and thereby removing the objection raised by the opposite party, is available to the party leading the evidence. Such practice and procedure is fair to both the parties." 

Kindly note that full text Judgments of Hon'ble Delhi High Court can be downloaded absolutely free of cost (without any charges except internet data) from the official website at the link 

https://delhihighcourt.nic.in/judgment

Then entering the date of Judgment, for example, as  8 October 2003.

Written by 

Vishal

Delhi

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