🔹Order 16 – Summoning of Witnesses (CPC, 1908)
🔹Short Note (Hinglish):
Order 16 batata hai ki court kisi witness ko bulane (summon karne) ka process kya hai.
Iska main purpose ye hai ki case me sach samne aaye aur dono parties ko apna saboot (evidence) dene ka equal mauka mile.
🔹Full Description (English + Hinglish):
🔹 Meaning:
Order 16 of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC) deals with the attendance of witnesses — kaun witness court me bulaya ja sakta hai, kaise summon issue hota hai, aur agar witness na aaye to court kya action le sakti hai.
Ye order ensure karta hai ki justice ke liye sachchi gawahi (truthful testimony) court me di ja sake.
🔹 Purpose of Order 16:
- To provide a proper system for calling witnesses.
- To make sure both parties get a fair chance to present evidence.
- To ensure that witnesses attend court when summoned.
- To empower the court to take action if witnesses do not appear.
🔹 Key Rules under Order 16:
Rule 1 – List of Witnesses:
Har party ko apne witnesses ki list court me deni hoti hai — ye list hearing ke pehle stage me file hoti hai.
Rule 2 – Summons to Witnesses:
Court ke order se summons issue hota hai, jisme likha hota hai ki witness kis date aur time par court me present ho.
Rule 3 – Expenses of Witness (Diet Money):
Jis party ne witness ko bulaya hai, usse pehle hi travel aur allowance (diet money) dena hota hai.
Rule 7 – Disobedience of Summons:
Agar witness summon milne ke baad bhi court me present nahi hota, to court uske against warrant of arrest issue kar sakti hai.
Rule 10 – Power to issue Warrant:
Court witness ke arrest warrant issue kar sakti hai aur usse fine bhi laga sakti hai.
Rule 12 – Consequences of Non-Appearance:
Agar witness repeatedly absent rehta hai, to uska evidence dismiss ho sakta hai aur uske khilaf legal action bhi liya ja sakta hai.
Rule 16 – Attendance of Witness:
Witness ko summon ke mutabiq court me appear hona zaruri hai — chahe wo plaintiff ka ho ya defendant ka.
Rule 20 – Imposition of Fine:
Court witness ke upar fine impose kar sakti hai agar usne valid reason ke bina summon ignore kiya.
🔹 Example:
Manish ne apne case me proof ke liye 2 logon ko witness rakha.
Court ne dono ko summon bheja.
Ek witness nahi aaya bina reason bataye, to court ne uske khilaf bailable warrant issue kar diya aur fine bhi lagaya.
🔹 Important Case Laws:
- Union of India v. T.R. Varma (1957) – Every witness must appear before the court if validly summoned.
- State of U.P. v. Shambhu Nath Singh (2001) – Disobedience of court summons can lead to legal consequences.
- Babulal v. Nandram (2005) – Expenses must be paid before issuing summons.
🔹Summary Table:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Order | Order 16 CPC |
| Subject | Summoning of Witnesses |
| Purpose | Attendance of witnesses to give testimony |
| Key Rule | Rule 1 – 20 |
| Non-Appearance Result | Warrant / Fine / Dismissal |
| Expenses (Diet Money) | Mandatory before summons |
| Legal Action | Arrest or penalty for non-appearance |
🔹Nyay Neeti Advice:
- Agar aap kisi witness ko bulana chahte ho, to unke naam court me likhit roop me jama karo.
- Unhe bulane se pehle diet money zarur jama karein.
- Agar aapko summon mila hai, to court me zarur appear ho — otherwise legal action ho sakta hai.
- Witness ko court ke samne sach bolne ki zimmedari hoti hai, jhoothi gawahi dena crime hai (Sec. 193 IPC).
