CHAPTERX

TRIALOFSUITS
Thecasetobeopened
250. AttentionofthePresidingOfficersisinvitedtotheprovisionsofrule1to3of
OrderXIXofCodeofCivilProcedure.1908,empoweringtheCourtstoorderanypoint
offormalnaturetobeprovedbyaffidavitinsteadof byoralevidencesubjecttothe
conditionscontainedinthesaidRules.
251. (1)TheCourtshouldenforcetheruleasto"opening"acase.Whentheparties
havetheiroralevidenceready,thelawdirects(OrderXVIII,rule2)thatthepartyhaving
therighttobeginshouldstatehiscase,andproducehisevidenceinsupportoftheissues
whichheisboundtoprove.Theotherpartyhasthentostatehiscase,andproducehis
evidence,ifany,andmaythenaddresstheCourtgenerallyonthewholecase,theparty
beginningbeingpermittedtoreplygenerally.
(2) Itisabsolutelynecessarythatthecaseshouldbeopenedinorderthattime
maybesaved.Itisessentialthattheevidenceofeachsideshouldbeprecededbyabrief
andclearstatementsofthecasetobemadeout,showingtheexactnatureoftheclaim,the
factstobeestablishedbytheevidencewhichwillbeadduced,thegeneralcharacterand
bearingofthatevidence,thenamesofwitnessestobeexaminedandaclearstatementof
anypropositionoflawinvolved.Thecasestatedintheopeningmustbeinaccordance
with the party's pleadings for no litigant can be allowed to make at the trial a case
differentfromthatwhichhehaspleadedandofwhichonlyhisadversaryhasnotice.
(3)Incomplicatedsuits,theJudgeshouldmakebriefnotesofthecasestatedin
theopeningandkeepthemontherecord.
ExaminationofWitnesses
252. (i) Accordingtorule2ofOrderXVIII,CivilProcedureCode,thepartiesshall
producetheirevidence,ifany,onthedayfixedforhearingofthesuit.TheCourtmay,
forthereasonstoberecorded,directorpermitanypartytoexamineanywitnessatany
stage.
(ii) While issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses, the Courts

shouldseethatadirectionisgiventoensurethattheworkofrecordingandcertifying
evidence of the parties concerned is done within the time which should be fixed or
prescribedbytheCourtaccordingtorequirements.
(iii)TheattentionoftheCivilCourtsisinvitedtorule3AofOrderXVIIIofthe
CivilProcedureCode,accordingtowhich,whereapartyhimselfwishestoappearasa
witness,heshallsoappearbeforeanyotherwitnessonhisbehalfhasbeenexamined,
unlesstheCourt,forthereasonstoberecordedpermitshimtoappearashimownwitness
atalaterstage.
(iv) Allwitnessesshouldgivetheirevidencefromthewitnessbox. Awitness
should normally stand when giving evidence, but a chair should be provided in the
witnessbox,uponwhichmaywitnessmaysitonreceivingpermissionofthePresiding
Judge.Thepermissionshouldbegivenonvalidgrounds,suchasthewitness'shealthor
thelikelihoodthathisevidencewilloccupyalongtimeetc.
253. TheattentionofCourtsisdrawntotheprovisionsofOrderXVIII,rule4,that
witnessesaretobeexaminedinopenCourt. Thepowerundersection30(c)(andsee
OrderXIX,rule1)toorderanyparticularfactorfactstobeprovedbyaffidavitorthe
readingofanaffidavitofanywitnessatthehearing,shouldbeexercisedonlyinspecial
circumstancesor,asthatruledeclares"forsufficientreason".Whichshouldalwaysbe
specifiedintheorder;therecanbenogeneralorderfortheadmissionofaffidavitsin
suitsorappeals.
254. (1)Thestandardformsprovidedshouldbeusedforrecordingdepositionsasitis
importanttorecordthename,descriptionandresidenceofthewitnesssufficientlyto
preventanysubsequentmistakeastohisidentity.
(2)Thedepositionofeachwitnessshouldberecordedonaseparatesheetandin
themannerprescribedinOrderXVIIIoftheCivilProcedureCode. Itisillegaland
impropertorecordthedepositionofonewitnessatlengthandtoenteragainstthenames
ofotherwitnesses"statedasabove".Depositionshouldberecordedinthefirstperson.
(3)TheevidenceofwitnessesshallberecordedinthelanguageoftheCourt,i.e.
in Marathibeyondthe limits ofGreaterBombayandinEnglish withinthelimits of
GreaterBombay.
The notes of evidence recorded by the Presiding Officers shall be in English
whereevidenceisnotgiveninEnglish.WhereevidenceisnotgiveninEnglishbutall
thepartieswhoappearinperson,andthepleadersofsuchofthepartiesasappearby
pleaders,donotobjecttohavingsuchevidencebeingtakendowninEnglish,theJudge
maytakedown,orcausetobetakendown,suchevidenceinEnglish.

(4)IndepositionrecordedinEnglish,theuseofwordsor phraseinregional
language(notbeingtechnical,revenueorlawterms)shouldbeavoided if thereis a
satisfactoryandcorrespondingEnglishequivalent.Ifawordintheorigionallanguageis
used,itsnearestEnglishequivalentshouldbeaddedinbrackets.Itisoftennecessaryto
knowinwhatsenseaCourtisusingaternintheregionallanguage,Similarly,Indian
dates shouldbefollowedinbracketsbytheirequivalentsaccordingtotheGregorian
Calendar.Whilerecordingtheevidencethenumberoftheexhibitofdocumentshould
invariablybementionedagainstthedocumentsreferredtointhebodyofthedeposition
itself.
(5) Each deposition should be signed (not merely initialed) by the Presiding
Officer, who should add to his signature at least the initials indicating his official
designation, so that the deposition may be complete in itself. He shall also sign a
certificateatthefootofeachdepositiontotheeffectthatithasbeen'Recordedinmy
presence.'EverycorrectioninthedepositionshouldbeinitialedbytheJudge.
(6)AllJudgesshouldrecordmemorandumofevidenceinEnglishinallcasesand
proceedings.
Iftheevidenceisrecordedinthelanguagedifferentfromtheoneinwhichitis
givenbythewitnessandthewitnessdoesnotunderstandthelanguageinwhichitis
recorded,itshallbereadoverandinterpretedtothewitnessesinthelanguageinwhichit
isgivenbythewitness.
(7)TheJudgeshouldcomparethememorandumofsubstanceofthedeposition
madebyhimunderOrderXVIII,rule8oftheCivilProcedureCodewiththedeposition
recordedintheregionallanguagewhenitisreadoutinopenCourtandseethatnoneof
the statements contained in the memorandum are omitted from the record of the
depositionmadeintheregionallanguage.
(8)Itisimportantthatthewholeoftheevidencegivenbyeachwitnessshould
appearinoneplace,andnotscatteredatintervalsthroughtherecord.Therefore,whena
witnessisforanyreason,recalledandfurtherexamined,afterthecloseofhisoriginal
deposition, such further examination should appear as a continuation of the original
deposition,beingheadedasfollows,forthesakeofdistinction:
Recalledforfurtherexaminationonthis(hereenterthedate)afterthe(hereshow
thestageoftheproceedingsimmediatelyprecedingtherecallofthewitness,e.g.,ifthe
firstwitnessfortheplaintiffisrecalledafterthetenth,theentrywouldbe)"10thwitness

fortheplaintiff".
(9)Careshouldbetakentomakedepositionclearandprecise.Vaguenessshould
beavoided.Inparticular,differentwordsorphrasesshouldnotbeusedindifferentparts
of the deposition to describe the same objects and documents. A person should be
referredtoinaconsistentmanner,e.g.,heshouldnotbereferredtobyhisfamilynameat
oneplaceandbyhispersonalnameatanother.
255.
(1) The imperative language used in sections 5, 60, 64, 136 and 165,
IndianEvidenceAct,indicatesthataCourtshould,whetherobjectiontoevidenceisoris
notraisedbyanyparty,compelobservanceofthelaw.
(2) When a witness is being crossexamined, the Judge should guide
himselfbytheprovisionsofsections146,148,151and152oftheEvidenceAct,and
disallowanyquestionwhichappearstohimtobeimproper.Heshouldseethatsuchis
not made of trifling discrepancies, that the examination is not protracted beyond
reasonable limits even if the questions put be relevant, and that the witness is not
subjectedtoquestions,whichmerelyinviterepetitionofthestory,whichhehasalready
giveninhisexaminationinchief,inthehopethathewillchangeitintheprocess.Inthis
connectionsection136oftheEvidenceAct,shouldbeborneinmind,asitempowersthe
Judge to askaparty proposingtogive evidencein whatmannerthe allegedfact, if
proved,willberelevant.TheCrossexaminermustnotbeallowedtobullyortakeunfair
advantageofthewitness.
(3) While it is necessaryforthe Judge to check random and pointless
questioning, he should be careful not to frustrate a skilful cross examination by
interposing when the drift of the questions is not immediately apparent and some
questionsarerepeated.Heshouldendeavourtofollowthelineandpurposeofthecross
examinationcloselyandshouldonlyasktheexaminertoexplainrelevancyofalineof
enquirywhenitapparentlyhasnobearinguponthecase.
(4)Awitnessmaybequestionedincrossexaminationnotonlyonthe
subjectofenquirybutuponanyothersubject,howeverremoteforthepurposeoftesting
thecredibility,hismemory,hismeansofknowledge,orhisaccuracy. Themomentit
appearsthataquestionisbeingaskedwhichdoesnotbearupontheissueorgivepromise
orhelpingtheCourttoestimatethevalueofthewitness'testimony'itisthedutyofthe
Courttointerfereaswelltoprotectthewitnessfromwhatthenbecomesaninjusticeor
insultastopreventthetimeoftheCourtfrombeingwasted. TheCourtshouldalso

preventanyevidencebeinggiventocontradictawitnessincontraventionofsection153
oftheEvidenceAct.
256.
It isessential that the Presiding Officersshould notplay analtogether
passiverole,butmusttakegreatinterestandelicitsuchinformationasmaybehelpfulin
finding truth. Particularly, the should control the examinationinchief, cross
examinationandexaminationofwitnessesandtrytocheckthetendencytoroveandover
proveunessentialallegations,soastopreventmuchtimebeingtakenupinelicitingand
recording unessential particulars to which no references can usefully be made in
argument. They should also exercise control when questions, that are uncalled for,
harassingorslanderous,areputincrossexamination.
257.
(1) When remarks as to the demeanour of a witness are made, it is
convenienttoenterthematthefootofhisdepositionoroftheJudgesmemorandumof
hisevidence.
(2)Whenanyquestionisobjectedto,andtheCourtdisallowsit,orallows
ittobeput,theobjectionandtheCourt'sdecisionandtheotherparticularsrequiredby
rule11ofOrderXVIIIoftheCivilProcedureCodemaybenotedinthebodyofthe
depositionormemorandumofevidence.
258.
Typewriter may be used by a Judge for recording depositions and
memorandaofevidence,buteverysheetofanydepositionsormemorandaofevidenceso
recordedshallbesignedbytheJudgerecordingit.
259.
Form No. 5 of Appendix H of Schedule I may be used for listing
documents produced by a witness. A witness may apply orally for the return of
documentsproducedbyhim.Afterreturningadocumentwhichhasbeenenteredonthe
record,areceiptshouldbetaken(seeparagraph527),andwhereitisreturnedatanytime
earlierthanthatprescribedbyrule9ofOrderXIII,acertifiedcopyorextractthereof
shouldalsobetakenasrequiredbythatrule.
260.
WhereawitnessgivesevidenceinalanguagenotunderstoodbytheCourt,
thepresidingJudgeisauthorisedtoemployainterpretertointerprettheevidenceandpay
himforhisservicesanyreasonablesumnotexceedingRs.30perdiemthecostbeing
bornebythepartycallingthewitnessinthefirstinstanceandbeingchargedascostinthe
suit.

LocalInspection
261.
LocalinspectionsshouldberarelyundertakenbyCourtsandparticularly
byappellateCourts.Itisthedutyofthepartiestoputforwardinevidencelucidplansof
suchdetailandaccuracyastorenderinspectionunnecessaryanditisforthetrialJudgeto
see that the parties discharge this duty and do not seek to escape by suggesting
inspection.
262.
Whereinspectionisfoundnecessary,theproperruleshouldbeasfollows:
Whentheinspectionisundertakenattheinstanceothepartiesandisataplacewhichis
within easy distance of headquarters, the party desiring it must arrange for the
conveyanceoftheJudge,who,beforeheaccedestothesuggestion,shouldordinarily
arrangetoholdtheinspectionoutsideCourthours.
263.
WheresuchinspectioninvolvesabsencefromCourtorfromheadquarters,
the Civil Judge should inform the District Judge of the circumstances, which render
inspectionnecessaryandobtaintheprevioussanctionoftheDistrictJudgetohisabsence
from his Headquarters on the particular date. The lawyer, at whose instance the
inspectionisundertaken,shouldberesponsibleforarrangingfortheconveyanceofthe
Civil Judge. Ordinarily, the District Judge should not interfere with the judicial
discretionoftheCivilJudgeregardingthenecessityforinspection.
264.
(i)ThecostsofaninspectionwhichrequiresaCivilJudgetoleavehis
headquartersmustbedepositedbythepartyinCourtandcannotbereceivedbytheCivil
Judge direct from the party. He can, however, reimburse himself in respect of the
expensesincurredbyhimbysubmittingaT.A.BilltotheDistrictJudgeaspermittedby
theRules.
TheamountdepositedshallbefirstcreditedintheRegisterofDepositReceiptsin
Form'C'andaftertheinspectionisover,theamountincurredfortheinspectionshallbe
debited in the said account and credited to Government under the head 'XVII
Administration ofJustice'andthebalance ofthe amountofdeposit, ifany,shallbe
refundedtothepartydepositingtheamount.
(ii)Theexpensesincurredbythepartyforthispurposeshallbeincludedinthe
billofcosts.
265.

WheretheJudgeconsidersitnecessarytomakealocalinspectioneven

thoughthepartiesdonotmovehimandarenotwillingtoarrangeforit,itisopentothe
Judge(ifaCivilJudge,withtheprevioussanctionoftheDistrictJudge)tomakethe
inspectionatGovernmentexpense.
266.
ItisnecessaryfortheJudgetomakenotesoflocalinspectionsothatthe
partiesaswellastheAppellateCourtmayknowwhatfactswerenoticed,bytheJudge
andwhatimpressionswereformedbyhim.