August 19, 2024
Overview: The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 represents a pivotal legislative update, set to replace the Indian Evidence Act of 1872.
This new Act updates the framework for evidence admissibility and evaluation in India's judicial system, integrating modern technological developments such as the recognition of electronic and digital evidence. It is designed to meet current legal standards, tackling the complexities faced in today’s judicial scenarios.
Moreover, the Act aims to correct prevailing inconsistencies and establish more transparent guidelines for the admission of evidence. It also strengthens safeguards against injustices during custody and optimizes judicial procedures to promote both fairness and efficiency.
If you are a person of legal fraternity then it is important for you to understand Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA), and to help you with that we have made notes for you to read and understand the act in depth.
In this blog we will cover:
The Indian Evidence Act of 1872 (IEA) serves as the foundational framework for the admissibility of evidence in Indian judicial processes, applicable to both civil and criminal cases. Over the decades, amendments have been made to the IEA to keep pace with evolving legal practices and technological changes.
Notably, a 2000 amendment recognized electronic records as admissible secondary evidence, reflecting the increased dependency on digital data. Further amendments in 2013 revised aspects concerning consent in rape cases, notably shifting the burden of proof onto the accused to demonstrate that consent was given and affirming that the victim’s character and sexual history should not bear on the consent deliberation.
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The Law Commission has periodically reviewed the IEA, proposing updates to address issues such as custodial violence, the validity of police confessions, and cross-examination protocols. These recommendations are geared towards enhancing the relevance and effectiveness of the legislation.
In line with these efforts, the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023, intended to supersede the IEA, was presented in the Lok Sabha on August 11, 2023. Following its introduction, the Standing Committee on Home Affairs has undertaken a thorough review of the Bill to ensure it meets contemporary legal standards.
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Key Recommendations and Their Incorporation Status:
Recommendation | Incorporated? |
---|---|
Repeal sections on confessions to police officers | No |
Facts discovered through coercion should not be provable | No |
Presumption that police caused injuries in custody | No |
Requirement of certificate for electronic records | No |
Government privilege in evidence | No |
Cross-examination of previous statements (oral and written) | No |
Criminal liability for conspiracy | No |
Detailed provisions on admissible and inadmissible admissions | No |
Secondary evidence for documents | No |
Presumption of documents produced as record of evidence | No |
New provision for establishing credit of witness | No |
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Recent Legal Developments: The Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, three newly enacted laws set to take effect on July 1, 2024, aim to overhaul the longstanding frameworks of the IPC, CrPC, and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. These changes include:
Historical Overview of India’s Criminal Justice System:
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A Concise History of the Transformation from Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 (BSB) to Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA)
The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 (BSB) was introduced to streamline and modernize the principles of evidence for fair trials, eventually leading to the repeal of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. This legislative journey began with the bill's introduction to the Lok Sabha on August 11, 2023, followed by detailed scrutiny by a Standing Committee.
Despite the initial draft being withdrawn on December 12, 2023, it was promptly replaced by a more refined version, the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023. This revised bill moved swiftly through the legislative process, receiving approval from both houses of Parliament and culminating in presidential assent on December 25, 2023, thereby becoming the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA).
Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 (BSB)
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Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023
Details of Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
Structure of the Act:
Key Amendments Introduced:
2023 Legislative Reforms: The Parliamentary session in December 2023 marked a significant shift with the passage of pivotal bills aimed at modernizing and improving the efficiency and applicability of criminal justice laws in India.
Detailed Provisions of BSA, 2023:
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Challenges and Considerations:
Recommendations for Effective Implementation:
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The Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023 (BSB2) aims to replace the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (IEA). This new bill retains most of the provisions of the IEA, including those on confessions, relevancy of facts, and the burden of proof.
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Tampering of Electronic Records:
Authentication of Electronic Records:
Information Discovered in Police Custody:
Recommendations Not Incorporated:
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Context:
Key Features:
Admissibility of Electronic Records:
Tampering of Electronic Records:
Challenges to Facts Discovered in Police Custody:
Recommendations of Various Committees and Courts:
Here is the complete comparative table based on the correspondence between the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA) and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (IEA) from the provided document:
BSA Section | IEA Section | Subject | Summary of Comparison |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Short Title, Application, and Commencement | BSA excludes territorial extent provision that IEA had, which extended to the whole of India. |
2 | 3 | Interpretation Clause/Definitions | BSA redefines words and expressions with individual clauses, excludes definition of "India". |
2(1)(a) | 3, para 1 | "Court" | No change. |
2(1)(b) | 4, para 3 | "Conclusive Proof" | Adds "means"; "Act" replaced with "Adhiniyam". |
2(1)(c) | 3, para 8 | "Disproved" | Phrase changed for clarity. |
2(1)(d) | 3, para 5 | "Document" | Includes electronic and digital records; expands definition. |
2(1)(e) | 3, para 6 | "Evidence" | Adds digital records and electronic statements. |
2(1)(f) | 3, para 2 | "Fact" | Removes outdated illustration and modernizes language. |
2(1)(g) | 3, para 4 | "Facts in Issue" | No change. |
2(1)(h) | 4, para 1 | "May Presume" | No change. |
2(1)(i) | 3, para 9 | "Not Proved" | No change. |
2(1)(j) | 3, para 7 | "Proved" | No change. |
2(1)(k) | 3, para 3 | "Relevant" | No change. |
2(1)(l) | 4, para 2 | "Shall Presume" | No change. |
2(2) | New | Words and Expressions | New addition to BSA, aligns definitions with other contemporary acts. |
3 | 5 | Evidence and Relevant Facts | No change. |
4 | 6 | Relevancy of Facts in Same Transaction | No change. |
5 | 7 | Occasion, Cause or Effect of Facts | Adds "or relevant facts" to the title. |
6 | 8 | Motive, Preparation, Conduct | Updates language and replaces outdated terms in illustrations. |
7 | 9 | Explain or Introduce Facts | Minor textual updates; adds words for clarity. |
8 | 10 | Conspirator Statements | Updates geographical references in illustrations. |
9 | 11 | Relevancy of Non-relevant Facts | Updates city names in illustrations. |
10 | 12 | Determine Amount in Damages | Reorders words in the title. |
11 | 13 | Right or Custom in Question | No change. |
12 | 14 | State of Mind, Body | Modernizes terms in illustrations. |
13 | 15 | Accidental or Intentional Act | Updates currency terms in illustrations. |
14 | 16 | Course of Business | No change. |
15 | 17 | Admission Defined | No change. |
16 | 18 | Admission by Party or Agent | Structural changes in presentation. |
17 | 19 | Admission by Others | No change. |
18 | 20 | Express Admissions | No change. |
19 | 21 | Proof of Admissions | Updates currency terms in illustrations. |
20 | 22 | Oral Admissions of Documents | No change. |
21 | 23 | Admissions in Civil Cases | Replaces legal terms with "advocate". |
22(1) | 24 | Inducement, Threat in Confessions | Adds "coercion"; integrates sections as provisos. |
23(1) & (2) | 25 & 26 | Confession to Police Officer | Simplifies language and integrates sections. |
24 | 30 | Considered Confessions | Adds new explanations for joint trials. |
25 | 31 | Admissions as Estoppel | No change. |
26 | 32 | Relevant Statements by Unavailable Persons | Updates language and removes outdated terms. |
27 | 33 | Relevancy for Proving Truth | Minor textual adjustment. |
28 | 34 | Entries in Books of Account | Removes reference to electronic forms from the title. |
29 | 35 | Public Record or Electronic Record | No change. |
30 | 36 | Statements in Maps, Charts, Plans | No change. |
31 | 37 | Public Nature Facts in Acts or Notifications | Modernizes terms and removes colonial references. |
32 | 38 | Law Statements in Law Books | Adds "electronic or digital form". |
33 | 39 | Conversation, Document, Electronic Record | No change. |
34 | 40 | Previous Judgments | No change. |
35 | 41 | Judgments in Probate | Adds "Tribunal" and restructures text. |
36 | 42 | Judgments, Orders, Decrees | No change. |
37 | 43 | Other Judgments | No change. |
38 | 44 | Fraud or Collusion in Judgments | No change. |
39(1) | 45 | Experts' Opinions | Expands scope to include any field. |
39(2) | 45A | Examiner of Electronic Evidence | Integrates section as a subsection. |
40 | 46 | Expert Opinions on Facts | No change. |
41(1) & (2) | 47 & 47A | Handwriting and Electronic Signature | Adds "signature" and integrates as subsections. |
42 | 48 | Custom or Right Opinions | No change. |
43 | 49 | Usages, Tenets Opinions | Structures paragraphs as clauses. |
44 | 50 | Relationship Opinions | No change. |
45 | 51 | Opinion Grounds | No change. |
46 | 52 | Character in Civil Cases | No change. |
47 | 53 | Character in Criminal Cases | No change. |
48 | 53A | Character in Sexual Cases | No change. |
49 | 54 | Character in Reply | No change. |
50 | 55 | Character Affecting Damages | No change. |
51 | 56 | Judicially Noticeable Facts | No change. |
52 | 57 | Court's Judicial Notice | Updates terms and adds international references. |
53 | 58 | Admitted Facts | No change. |
54 | 59 | Oral Evidence | Excludes "electronic records". |
55 | 60 | Direct Oral Evidence | Updates language and structures paragraphs. |
56 | 61 | Document Contents Proof | No change. |
57 | 62 | Primary Evidence | Adds explanations. |
58 | 63 | Secondary Evidence | Updates definitions and adds clauses. |
59 | 64 | Primary Document Proof | No change. |
60 | 65 | Secondary Evidence Conditions | Updates language and structures paragraphs. |
61 | New | Electronic or Digital Record | Adds provisions for admissibility and legal effects of electronic records. |
62 | 65A | Electronic Record Evidence | No change. |
63 | 65B | Electronic Records Admissibility | Expands definitions and adds detailed provisions for admissibility. |
64 | 66 | Notice to Produce | Updates legal terms. |
65 | 67 | Handwriting Proof | No change. |
66 | 67A | Electronic Signature Proof | No change. |
67 | 68 | Document Execution Proof | No change. |
68 | 69 | Attesting Witness Absence Proof | Excludes reference to the United Kingdom. |
69 | 70 | Attested Document Admission | No change. |
70 | 71 | Attesting Witness Denial Proof | No change. |
71 | 72 | Non-attested Document Proof | No change. |
72 | 73 | Signature, Writing Comparison | Structures paragraphs and simplifies language. |
73 | 73A | Digital Signature Verification | No change. |
74(1) & (2) | 74 & 75 | Public and Private Documents | Adjusts terms, removes colonial references, and adds "private" to the title. |
75 | 76 | Certified Public Documents | No change. |
76 | 77 | Certified Copy Proof | No change. |
77 | 78 | Official Document Proof | Updates terms, removes colonial references, and restructures conditions. |
78 | 79 | Certified Copy Genuineness | Simplifies language and restructures paragraphs. |
79 | 80 | Document Record Evidence | Removes colonial references and adds explanations for custody. |
80 | 81 | Official Gazette Presumption | Consolidates references to gazettes and adds custody explanation. |
81 | 81A | Electronic Gazette Presumption | Adds a new explanation for electronic document custody. |
82 | 83 | Government Map Presumption | No change. |
83 | 84 | Law Collection Presumption | No change. |
84 | 85 | Power-of-attorney Presumption | No change. |
85 | 85A | Electronic Agreement Presumption | Adds "digital" to the provisions. |
86 | 85B | Electronic Record Presumption | No change. |
87 | 85C | Electronic Signature Certificate Presumption | No change. |
88 | 86 | Foreign Judicial Record Presumption | Updates geographic references. |
89 | 87 | Book, Map Chart Presumption | No change. |
90 | 88A | Electronic Message Presumption | Excludes previous explanation. |
91 | 89 | Document Execution Presumption | No change. |
92 | 90 | Old Document Presumption | Adds a new explanation similar to section 80 for old documents. |
93 | 90A | Old Electronic Record Presumption | Adds a new explanation similar to section 81 for old electronic records. |
94 | 91 | Contract, Grant, Disposition Document Evidence | Updates geographic references and modernizes currency values in illustrations. |
95 | 92 | Oral Agreement Exclusion | Updates legal terms and modernizes currency values in illustrations. |
96 | 93 | Ambiguous Document Amendment Exclusion | Modernizes currency values in illustrations. |
97 | 94 | Document Application Exclusion | No change. |
98 | 95 | Unmeaning Document Evidence | Updates geographic references in illustrations. |
99 | 96 | Singular Application Language | Updates geographic references in illustrations. |
100 | 97 | Inapplicable Language Evidence | No change. |
101 | 98 | Illegible Character Evidence | Updates regional references. |
102 | 99 | Document Variation Evidence | No change. |
103 | 100 | Will Provision Saving | Updates references to the Indian Succession Act. |
104 | 101 | Burden of Proof | No change. |
105 | 102 | Proof Burden | No change. |
106 | 103 | Specific Fact Proof Burden | No change. |
107 | 104 | Admissible Evidence Proof Burden | No change. |
108 | 105 | Accused Exception Proof Burden | Updates references to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. |
109 | 106 | Special Knowledge Fact Proof Burden | No change. |
110 | 107 | Recent Death Proof Burden | No change. |
111 | 108 | Alive Person Proof Burden | Simplifies the provision. |
112 | 109 | Relationship Proof Burden | No change. |
113 | 110 | Ownership Proof Burden | No change. |
114 | 111 | Active Confidence Transaction Proof | Updates legal terms. |
115 | 111A | Certain Offense Presumption | Updates references to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. |
116 | 112 | Marriage Legitimacy Proof | Gender-neutral language update. |
117 | 113A | Married Woman Suicide Abetment Presumption | Updates references to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. |
118 | 113B | Dowry Death Presumption | Updates references to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. |
119 | 114 | Fact Presumption | Restructures illustrations and adds subsections. |
120 | 114A | Rape Consent Absence Presumption | Updates references to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. |
121 | 115 | Estoppel | No change. |
122 | 116 | Tenant, Licensee Estoppel | Adds minor textual updates. |
123 | 117 | Bill Acceptor, Bailee, Licensee Estoppel | No change. |
124 | 118 | Witness Testimony | Updates mental health references. |
125 | 119 | Non-verbal Communication Witness | No change. |
126 | 120 | Spousal Witness Competency | Updates title and structures paragraphs. |
127 | 121 | Judicial Official Testimony | No change. |
128 | 122 | Marital Communication Evidence | No change. |
129 | 123 | State Affair Evidence | No change. |
130 | 124 | Official Communication Evidence | No change. |
131 | 125 | Offense Commission Information | No change. |
132(1) & (2) | 126 | Professional Communication | Updates legal terms and simplifies language. |
132(3) | 127 | Interpreter, Employee Professional Communication | Updates employment references. |
133 | 128 | Volunteered Evidence Privilege | Updates legal terms. |
134 | 129 | Legal Adviser Confidential Communication | Simplifies legal terms. |
135 | 130 | Non-party Witness Title Deed Production | No change. |
136 | 131 | Document Production Refusal Right | No change. |
137 | 132 | Witness Answer Compulsion | Simplifies the provision. |
138 | 133 | Accomplice Testimony | Updates language for clarity. |
139 | 134 | Witness Number | No change. |
140 | 135 | Witness Examination Order | No change. |
141 | 136 | Evidence Admissibility Judgment | Structures paragraphs and excludes headings. |
142 | 137 | Witness Examination | Structures paragraphs and simplifies language. |
143 | 138 | Examination Order | Structures paragraphs and updates terminology. |
144 | 139 | Document Production Witness Cross-examination | No change. |
145 | 140 | Character Witness | No change. |
146(1) | 141 | Leading Questions | Integrates IEA section as a BSA subsection. |
146(2) & (3) | 142 | Leading Question Restrictions | Integrates IEA sections as BSA subsections. |
146(4) | 143 | Leading Question Allowances | Integrates IEA section as a BSA subsection. |
147 | 144 | Written Matter Evidence | No change. |
148 | 145 | Written Statement Cross-examination | No change. |
149 | 146 | Cross-examination Questions | Updates legal references and structures items. |
150 | 147 | Answer Compulsion Witness | No change. |
151 | 148 | Question Asking and Answering Court Decision | Adds "namely" for clarity in subsection. |
152 | 149 | Question Ground Reasonability | Updates legal and criminal terms. |
153 | 150 | Unreasonable Ground Question Court Procedure | Updates legal terms. |
154 | 151 | Indecent, Scandalous Questions | No change. |
155 | 152 | Insulting, Annoying Questions | No change. |
156 | 153 | Veracity Testing Answer Contradiction Exclusion | Updates geographic references. |
157 | 154 | Own Witness Questioning | No change. |
158 | 155 | Witness Credit Impeachment | Structures items and updates criminal terms. |
159 | 156 | Expert Opinion Fact Corroboration | No change. |
160 | 157 | Witness Previous Statement Corroboration | No change. |
161 | 158 | Proved Statement Relevant Fact Proof | No change. |
162 | 159 | Memory Refreshing | Structures paragraphs and simplifies provisions. |
163 | 160 | Document Stated Fact Testimony | No change. |
164 | 161 | Memory Refreshing Document Adverse Party Right | Updates language for clarity. |
165 | 162 | Document Production | Structures paragraphs and adds new proviso. |
166 | 163 | Document Notice Production Evidence | No change. |
167 | 164 | Refused Document Production Evidence | No change. |
168 | 165 | Judicial Questioning, Document Production | Updates terminology and simplifies language. |
169 | 167 | Evidence Admission, Rejection Trial Impact | No change. |
170 | New | Repeal and Savings | Newly added provision for transitional measures. |
This table encapsulates the detailed correspondence and differences between the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA) and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (IEA), highlighting updates, modernizations, and additions to align with contemporary legal standards and digital advancements.
The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam aims to refine the definition and management of electronic records in legal proceedings, requiring a coordinated effort from all stakeholders to ensure its successful implementation and to address the challenges of the digital age in the legal domain.
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