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Indian Evidence Act, 1872

Section 22

When oral admissions as to contents of documents are relevant

Quick Answer Reference: Section 22 IEA

  • Provision: Section 22 of IEA
  • Act: Indian Evidence Act, 1872
  • Classification: evidence
  • Jurisdiction: India
  • Summary: This section states that oral admissions about the contents of a document are not relevant unless the party trying to prove them can show they are entitled to give secondary evidence of the document's contents or if the genuineness of the document is in question.
Statutory Content

What does Section 22 of IEA say?

Oral admissions as to the contents of a document are not relevant, unless and until the party proposing to prove them shows that he is entitled to give secondary evidence of the contents of such document under the rules hereinafter contained, or unless the genuineness of a document produced is in question.

Indian StandardSection 22, Indian Evidence Act, 1872
Bluebook (21st ed.)Indian Evidence Act, 1872, § 22 (India)
Court Pleading StandardSection 22 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872
Canonical Web linkhttps://nyaya.cloud/acts/indian-evidence-act-1872/22

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Source: Gazette of India (Official Publication)Verify egazette.gov.in ↗
✓ VERIFIED FOR LEGAL ACCURACYReviewed & certified by Advocate Meera Reddy (Bar Council ID: AP/2910/2019).
AI Educational GuideAI-generated explanation for educational and research purposes. Original statutory text is preserved exactly.
Section Meaning & Purpose

What does Section 22 of IEA mean?

Plain English Explanation

This section states that oral admissions about the contents of a document are not relevant unless the party trying to prove them can show they are entitled to give secondary evidence of the document's contents or if the genuineness of the document is in question.

Practical Interpretation

In real-life legal practice, this section means that if someone wants to use oral statements about a document's contents as evidence, they need to show that they can't get the original document or that the document's authenticity is being disputed.

Core Legal Purpose

The core purpose of this section is to prevent the use of unreliable oral evidence about documents and to ensure that secondary evidence is used when the original document is not available or its genuineness is disputed.

Key Legal Elements
  • The party proposing to prove the oral admissions must show entitlement to give secondary evidence of the document's contents.
  • The genuineness of the document produced is in question.
  • The party must show entitlement to give secondary evidence or the genuineness of the document is in question.
  • The oral admissions are not relevant unless the party meets one of the two conditions.
Practical Example

Practical Example of Section 22 IEA

Rajesh and Priya are involved in a property dispute. Rajesh claims that Priya orally admitted to signing a document that transfers ownership of the property to him. However, Priya denies making such an admission. In this case, Rajesh needs to show that he is entitled to give secondary evidence of the document's contents or that the genuineness of the document is in question. If Rajesh can't meet either condition, the oral admission is not relevant and can't be used as evidence.

Common Questions (FAQ)

Frequently Asked Questions about Section 22 IEA

Q: What is the punishment or consequence under Section 22 of IEA?

This section is a procedural provision and does not prescribe a penal punishment.

Q: Does this section apply to private individuals or public entities?

This section applies to all parties involved in legal proceedings, including private individuals and public entities.

Q: Is an offence under this section bailable or cognizable?

This section is a procedural provision and does not prescribe a penal punishment, so it is neither bailable nor cognizable.

People Also Ask (PAA)

Common Questions about Section 22 IEA

What is Section 22 of IEA?

Section 22 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (IEA) defines and regulates "When oral admissions as to contents of documents are relevant". In plain terms: This section states that oral admissions about the contents of a document are not relevant unless the party trying to prove them can show they are entitled to give secondary evidence of the document's contents or if the genuineness of the document is in question.

What are the elements of Section 22 of IEA?

The essential elements of Section 22 of IEA are: The party proposing to prove the oral admissions must show entitlement to give secondary evidence of the document's contents.; The genuineness of the document produced is in question.; The party must show entitlement to give secondary evidence or the genuineness of the document is in question..

Landmark Case Laws

Landmark Judgments under Section 22 IEA

1978 1 SCC 248

Supreme Court of India

Patnahcucisdb94 High Court (10 8)

Patnahcucisdb94 High Court (10 8)

Patnahcucisdb94 High Court (10 8)

Related Sections
Commonly Cited Alongside

Sections commonly cited alongside Section 22

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