Indian Evidence Act, 1872
21. Proof of admissions against persons making them, and
by or on their behalf
Admissions are
relevant and may be proved as against the person who makes them, or his
representative in interest; but they cannot be proved by or on behalf of the
person who makes them or by his representative in interest, except in the
following cases:-
(1) An admission may
be proved by or on behalf of the person making it, when it is of such a nature
that, if the person making it were dead, it would be relevant as between third
persons under section 32.
(2) An admission may
be proved by or on behalf of the person making it, when it consists of a
statement of the existence of any state of mind of body, relevant or in issue,
made at or about the time when such state of mind or body existed, and is
accompanied by conduct rendering its falsehood improbable.
(3) An admission may
be proved by or on behalf of the person making it, if it is relevant otherwise
than as an admission.
Illustration
(a) The question
between A and B is, whether a certain deed is or not forged. A affirms that it
is genuine, B that it is forged.
A may prove a
statement by B that the deed is genuine, and B may prove a statement by A that
the deed is forged ; but A cannot prove a statement y himself that the deed is
genuine, nor can B prove a statement by himself that the deed is forged.
(b) A, the Captain of
a ship, is tried for casting her away.
Evidence is given to
show that the ship was taken out of her proper course.
A produces a book kept
by him in the ordinary course of his business showing observations alleged to
have been taken by him from day to day, and indicating that the ship was not
taken out of her proper course, A may prove these statements, because they
would be admissible between third parties, if he were dead, under section 32,
clause (2)
(c) A is accused of a
crime committed by him at Calcutta.
He produces a letter
written by himself and date at Lahore on that day, and bearing the Lahore post
mark of that day.
The statement in the
date of the letter is admissible, because, if A were dead, it would be admissible
under section 32, clause (2).
(d) A is accused of
receiving stolen goods knowing them to be stolen.
He offers to prove
that he refused to sell them below their value.
A may prove these
statements, though they are admissions, because they are explanatory of conduct
influenced by facts in issue.
(e) A is accused of
fraudulently having in his possession counterfeit coin which he knew to be
counterfeit.
He offers to prove
that he asked a skillful person to examine the coin as he doubted whether it
was counterfeit or not, and that person did examine it and told him it was
genuine.
A may prove these
facts for the reasons stated in the last preceding illustration.