Production of documents.

What this section does

A witness summoned to produce a document must bring it to court if it is in his possession or power, notwithstanding any objection to its production or admissibility, with the court deciding the validity of any objection. The court may inspect the document (unless it relates to matters of State) or take other evidence to determine admissibility; if translation is needed, the court may direct the translator to keep contents secret, and disobedience constitutes an offence under s. 198 BNS 2023. Communications between Ministers and the President of India are expressly protected from compelled production.

AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).

The rule in one line

A summoned witness must produce a document in his possession; the court decides admissibility objections and may inspect it, subject to State-privilege and Presidential-communication exceptions.

When it applies

• A bank manager summoned to produce loan documents must bring them to court even if the bank objects on grounds of confidentiality; the court will rule on admissibility.
• A government official need not produce a document recording communications between a Minister and the President, as that class is expressly protected.

Derived from IEA s.162.