Proof of admissions against persons making them, and by or on their behalf
AI Assist
Summary
Admissions are relevant against the person who made them or that person’s representative, but normally the maker cannot prove their own admission or have it proved by their representative. Three exceptions allow proof by the maker: when the statement would be admissible between third parties if the maker were dead; when it records a state of mind or body at the time and conduct makes its falsehood unlikely; or when the statement is relevant for reasons other than being an admission.
Example
Priya is accused of an offence in City A. She produces a letter she wrote that day from City B, bearing the City B postmark. She may prove the date and place shown in her own letter even though it is her statement, because such a record would be admissible between third parties if she were dead.
Bare Act
Enacted textAdmissions 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 by proved by or on behalf of the person making it, when it consists of a statement of the existence of any state of mind or 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 on behalf of the person making it, if it is relevant otherwise than as an admission.
Illustrations
- (a) The question between A and B is, whether a certain deed is or is 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 by 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 mat 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 dated 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 the person did examine it and told him it was genuine.
A may prove these facts for the reasons stated in the last preceding illustration.
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