154.
(SC) 14-12-2023
A. Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908), Order 16 Rule 14, 21, Order 18 Rule 13A – Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872), Section 120, 137, 138, 139, 154, 155 – Parties to suit – Witnesses -- Function performed by either a witness or a party to a suit when in the witness box is the same -- Examination in chief, cross-examination and re-examination are all facets of a trial which can be availed by a party or the adversary, for both the party to a suit as a witness and also for other witnesses called by the party -- Held, there is no difference between a party to a suit as a witness and a witness simpliciter.
(Para 13-16, 32)
B. Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908), Order 7 Rule 14(4), Order 8 Rule 1-A(4)(a), Order 13 Rule 1(3) – Withholding of documents -- Production of documents for both a party to the suit and a witness as the case may be, at the stage of cross-examination, is permissible within law.
(Para 17-32)
C. Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908), Order 6 -- Arguments without pleadings -- It is settled law that what is not pleaded cannot be argued, as for the purposes of adjudication, it is necessary for the other party to know the contours of the case it is required to meet -- It is equally well settled that the requirement of having to plead a particular argument does not include exhaustively doing so.
(Para 28)