3. Interpretation-
clause.––In this Act the following words and expressions are used in the following
senses, unless a contrary intention appears from the context: ––
“Court”.––“Court” includes all Judges9 and Magistrates10, and all persons, except arbitrators,
legally authorised to take evidence.
“Fact”.––“Fact” means and includes––
(1) anything, state of things, or relation of things, capable
of being perceived by the senses;
(2) any mental condition of which any person is conscious.
Illustrations
(a) That there are certain objects arranged in a certain order in a certain place, is a fact.
(b) That a man heard or saw something, is a fact.
(c) That a man said certain words, is a fact.
(d) That a man holds a certain opinion, has a certain intention, acts in good faith or fraudulently, or uses a
particular word in a particular sense, or is or was at a specified time conscious of a particular sensation, is a fact.
(e) That a man has a certain reputation, is a fact.
1. The Act has been extended to Goa, Daman and Diu by Reg. 11 of 1963, s. 3 and Schedule, extended to and brought into force
in Dadra and Nagar Haveli by Reg. 6 of 1963, s. 2 and Schedule I (w.e.f. 1-7-1965) and to the whole of the Union territory of
Lakshadweep by Reg. 8 of 1965 (w.e.f. 1-10-1967). The Act came into force in Pondicherry on 1-10-1963 vide Reg. 7 of 1963,
s. 3 and Schedule I. The Act has been amended in West Bengal by West Bengal Act 20 of 1960 and in Tamil Nadu by Tamil
Nadu Act 67 of 1979.
2. Subs. by Act 3 of 1951, s. 3 and the Schedule, for “except Part B States”.
3. The words “except the State of Jammu and Kashmir” omitted by Act 34 of 2019, s. 95 and the Fifth Schedule (w.e.f. 31-10-
2019).
3. Ins. by Act 18 of 1919, s. 2 and the First Schedule.
4. Ins. by Act 35 of 1934, s. 2 and the Schedule.
5. The words “that Act as modified by” Omitted by the A.O. 1950.
6. Ins. by Act 10 of 1927, s. 2 and the First Schedule.
7. As to practice relating to affidavits, See the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act 5 of 1908), s. 30
(c) and the First Schedule,
Order XIX. See also the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Act 2 of 1974), ss. 295 and 297.
8. Cf. the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act 5 of 1908), s. 2, the Indian Penal Code (Act 45 of 1860), s. 19; and for a definition
of “District Judge”, the General Clauses Act, 1897 (10 of 1897), s. 3
(17).
9. Cf. the General Clauses Act, 1897 (10 of 1897), s. 3
(32) and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Act 2 of 1974).
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“Relevant”. –– One fact is said to be relevant to another when the one is connected with the other in
any of the ways referred to in the provisions of this Act relating to the relevancy of facts.
“Facts in issue”.–– The expression “facts in issue” means and includes––
any fact from which, either by itself or in connection with other facts, the existence,
non-existence, nature or extent of any right, liability, or disability, asserted or denied in any suit or
proceeding, necessarily follows.
Explanation.––Whenever, under the provisions of the law for the time being in force relating to Civil
Procedure,1 any Court records an issue of fact, the fact to be asserted or denied in the answer to such issue
is a fact in issue.
Illustrations
A is accused of the murder of B.
At his trial the following facts may be in issue:––
That A caused B’s death;
That A intended to cause B’s death;
That A had received grave and sudden provocation from B;
That A, at the time of doing the act which caused B’s death, was, by reason of unsoundness of mind, incapable
of knowing its nature.
“Document”. ––“Document” 2means any matter expressed or described upon any substance by
means of letters, figures or marks, or by more than one of those means, intended to be used, or which may
be used, for the purpose of recording that matter.
Illustrations
A writing3 is a document;
3
Words printed lithographed or photographed are documents;
A map or plan is a document;
An inscription on a metal plate or stone is a document;
A caricature is a document.
“Evidence”. ––“Evidence” means and includes ––
(1) all statements which the Court permits or requires to be made before it by witnesses, in
relation to matters of fact under inquiry;
such statements are called oral evidence;
(2) 4[all documents including electronic records produced for the inspection of the Court;]
such documents are called documentary evidence.
“Proved”.––A fact is said to be proved when, after considering the matters before it, the Court either
believes it to exist, or considers its existence so probable that a prudent man ought, under the
circumstances of the particular case, to act upon the supposition that it exists.
“Disproved”.––A fact is said to be disproved when, after considering the matters before it, the Court
either believes that it does not exist, or considers its non-existence so probable that a prudent man
1. See now the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act 5 of 1908); as to the settlement of issues, see Schedule I, order XIV.
2. Cf. the Indian Penal Code (Act 45 of 1860), s. 29 and the General Clauses Act, 1897 (10 of 1897), s. 3
(18).
3. Cf. definition of “writing” in the General Clauses Act, 1897 (10 of 1897), s. 3
(65).
4. Subs. by Act 21 of 2000, s. 92 and the Second Schedule, for the words “all documents produced for the inspection of the
Court” (w.e.f. 17-10-2000).
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ought, under the circumstances of the particular case, to act upon the supposition that it does not exist.
“Not proved”. –– A fact is said not to be proved when it is neither proved nor disproved.
1
[“India”. –– “India” means the territory of India excluding the State of Jammu and Kashmir.]
2
[the expressions “Certifying Authority”, “3[electronic signature]”, 4[(Electronic Signature
Certificate], “electronic form”, “electronic records”, “information”, “secure electronic record”, “secure
digital signature” and “subscriber” shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the
Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000).]
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