Order XI Rule 15 CPC: Inspection of documents referred to in pleadings or...

Order XI Rule 15: Inspection of documents referred to in pleadings or affidavits

Every party to a suit shall be entitled ¹[at or before the settlement of issues] to give notice to any other party, in whose pleadings or affidavits reference is made to any document, ²[or who has entered any document in any list annexed to his pleadings,] to produce such document for the inspection of the party giving such notice, or of his pleader, and to permit him or them to take copies thereof; and any party not complying with such notice shall not afterwards be at liberty to put any such document in evidence on his behalf in such suit unless he shall satisfy the Court that such document relates only to his own title, he being a defendant to the suit, or that he had some other cause or excuse which the Court shall deem sufficient for not complying with such notice, in which case the Court may allow the same to be put in evidence on such terms as to costs and otherwise as the Court shall think fit.

Footnotes in the official text

1.Subs. by Act 46 of 1999, s. 21, for “at any time” (w.e.f. 1-7-2002).
2.Ins. by Act 104 of 1976, s. 61 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).

Questions on this rule

1 question in 9 of our papers cite Order XI Rule 15. Try these from the free papers:

1. In his written statement, defendant D refers to a letter. Before the issues are settled, the plaintiff serves D with notice under Order XI Rule 15 CPC to produce it for inspection. D ignores the notice and gives no reason. At the trial, D wants to put the letter in evidence. Under Rule 15, D: