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CHAPTER VII.––OF THE BURDEN OF PROOF

Section 108: Burden of proving that person is alive who has not been heard of for seven years

The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (repealed)

Repealed by the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (47 of 2023) with effect from 1 July 2024.

1[Provided that when] the question is whether a man is alive or dead, and it is proved that he has not been heard of for seven years by those who would naturally have heard of him if he had been alive, the burden of proving that he is alive is 2[shifted to] the person who affirms it.

Footnotes in the official text

  1. 1.Subs. by Act 18 of 1872, s. 9, for “when” (w.e.f. 29-8-1872).
  2. 2.Subs. by s. 9, ibid., for “on” (w.e.f. 29-8-1872).

Now in the BSA

As given in the correspondence table of the National Crime Records Bureau (Ministry of Home Affairs). Read both texts before relying on it. NCRB table

108. Burden of proving that person is alive who has not been heard of for seven years.BSA 111

Questions on this section

2 questions in 9 of our papers cite Section 108. Try these from the free papers:

  1. 1. Under Section 111 of the BSA, when the question is whether a man is alive or dead, and it is proved that he has not been heard of for seven years by those who would naturally have heard of him if he had been alive:

  2. 2. In LIC of India v. Anuradha (2004), the Supreme Court held that the presumption under Section 108 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (now Section 111 of the BSA) as to a person not heard of for seven years:

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