Evidence of officers of the Mint
AI Assist
Summary
Reports made by officers of a Mint, Note Printing Press, Security Printing Press, Forensic Department or Government/State Examiner of Questioned Documents about material sent to them in a proceeding under this Code can be used as evidence even if the officer is not called to testify. The court may summon the officer to examine the report, but cannot compel production of the unpublished official records on which the report is based. The officer cannot disclose unpublished records or particulars of tests used without permission of the head of the concerned office.
Example
Priya gives a suspicious banknote to the Forensic Science Laboratory during a theft investigation. The lab issues a written report that the note is counterfeit, and the report is admitted at trial even though the lab officer is not called as a witness. If the defence asks for the lab’s raw records or exact test details, the court cannot force disclosure unless the head of the lab permits it, though the officer may be summoned to explain the report.
Bare Act
Enacted text(1) Any document purporting to be a report under the hand of any such officer of any Mint or of any Note Printing Press or of any Security Printing Press (including the officer of the Controller of Stamps and Stationery) or of any Forensic Department or Division of Forensic Science Laboratory or any Government Examiner of Questioned Documents or any State Examiner of Questioned Documents, as the case may be as the Central Government may, by notification, specify in this behalf, upon any matter or thing duly submitted to him for examination and report in the course of any proceeding under this Code, may be used as evidence in any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Code, although such officer is not called as a witness.
(2) The Court may, if it thinks fit, summon and examine any such officer as to the subject-matter of this report:
Provided that no such officer shall be summoned to produce any records on which the report is based.
(3) Without prejudice to the provisions of sections 123 and 124 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872) no such officer shall,except with the permission of the General Manager or any officer in charge of any Mint or of any Note Printing Press or of any Security Printing Press or of any Forensic Department or any officer in charge of the Forensic Science Laboratory or of the Government Examiner of Questioned Documents Organisation or of the State Examiner of Questioned Documents Organisation, as the case may be, be permitted-
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(a) to give any evidence derived from any unpublished official records on which the report is based; or
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(b) to disclose the nature or particulars of any test applied by him in the course of the examination of the matter or thing.
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