Welcome to LawTutorial.in – Your Partner in Understanding Law
Join Now

Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 — Section 56: Proof of contents of documents

§ SECTION 56 · BSA 2023 · CHAPTER V — DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE

Proof of contents of documents

Chapter V opens — the home of the exception § 54 carved out. The contents of a document are proved in one of two ways: by primary evidence (the original) or by secondary evidence (a copy or account) — the original being the rule.

How to read Section 56

Distinguish the definition of secondary evidence from the grounds allowing it.

Primary · section 57

The document itself produced for inspection, read with section 57’s Explanations.

Secondary · section 58

The recognised kinds include copies, accounts, admissions and the other listed forms.

Admissibility · section 60

Identify the applicable ground and permitted form; check section 64 notice where required.

The bare Act

The section in its own words — colour-keyed by what each phrase does.

Section 56 · verbatim

The contents of documents may be proved either by primary or by secondary evidence.

In short: this section is the index to the whole documentary-evidence chapter. What a document says — its contents — can reach the court by only two channels: primary evidence (the original, § 57) or secondary evidence (copies and accounts, § 58). They are not equal alternatives: the law follows the best-evidence principle, so the original is required unless one of the defined grounds for secondary evidence applies.

→ This carries forward IEA 1872 § 61, and opens Chapter V (Documentary Evidence, §§ 56–93).

Glossary

contents of a document

What the document says — the matter to be proved here.

primary evidence

The original document itself, produced in court — § 57.

secondary evidence

A copy or account of the contents — § 58, admissible in set cases.

original

The document actually executed — the thing primary evidence refers to.

certified copy

An officially attested copy — a common form of secondary evidence.

best-evidence rule

Section 59 generally requires primary evidence, subject to the permitted cases. Section 60 is not confined to physical unavailability of the original.

The picture

Section 57: primary. Section 58: kinds of secondary. Section 60: when and which secondary evidence may be given.

Document contents: definition is not admissibilityDocument contents: definition is not admissibilitySECTION 57Primary evidence: apply thedefinition and itsExplanations.SECTION 58Secondary evidence: identifythe relevant kind ofsubstitute proof.SECTION 60Identify the ground andpermitted form; check section64 where applicable.Section 58 is the classification provision; section 60 supplies the admissibility grounds.

The section, part by part

Tap a part — the picture-story tells it first; the word-by-word text and example follow.

the ruleTwo ways to prove what a document says

In one lineThe contents of a document may be proved in two ways — by primary evidence (the original) or by secondary evidence (a copy or account, when allowed).
Document contents: definition is not admissibilityDocument contents: definition is not admissibilitySECTION 57Primary evidence: apply thedefinition and itsExplanations.SECTION 58Secondary evidence: identifythe relevant kind ofsubstitute proof.SECTION 60Identify the ground andpermitted form; check section64 where applicable.Section 58 is the classification provision; section 60 supplies the admissibility grounds.
The contents of documentswhat a document SAYSthe contents of a document — what it actually says…
may be proved either by primaryby PRIMARY evidence…may be proved by primary evidence (the original document itself)…
or by secondary evidence.or by SECONDARY evidence…or by secondary evidence (copies or accounts of the contents) — in the cases the law allows.
ExampleTo prove the terms of a lease, produce the original lease (primary). If the original is lost, or held by the opponent and not produced, a certified copy or other secondary evidence may be given — in the cases the law permits.
Reading boundarySection 58 describes kinds of secondary evidence. Section 60 supplies the grounds and permitted forms; section 64 governs notice where applicable. The two routes are not an unrestricted choice.

the two kindsPrimary vs secondary — a preview

In one linePrimary = the original document. Secondary = a copy or account of it. The law prefers the original; secondary is a fallback, allowed only in defined cases.
Document contents: definition is not admissibilityDocument contents: definition is not admissibilitySECTION 57Primary evidence: apply thedefinition and itsExplanations.SECTION 58Secondary evidence: identifythe relevant kind ofsubstitute proof.SECTION 60Identify the ground andpermitted form; check section64 where applicable.Section 58 is the classification provision; section 60 supplies the admissibility grounds.
primary = the originalthe document itselfprimary evidence is the original document produced in court — defined in § 57.
secondary = a substitutecopies & accountssecondary evidence is a copy or account of the contents — defined in § 58.
the original is preferred‘best evidence’you normally must produce the original; secondary is allowed only in the situations the law lists.
ExampleThe original signed contract is primary evidence. A photocopy or a certified copy is secondary — receivable only if, say, the original is lost or wrongfully withheld.
Reading boundarySection 58 describes kinds of secondary evidence. Section 60 supplies the grounds and permitted forms; section 64 governs notice where applicable. The two routes are not an unrestricted choice.

Connected provisions

§ 57 · next

Primary evidence

Defines the original — the first of the two routes.

§ 58

Secondary evidence

Defines the recognised kinds of secondary evidence. Section 60 separately supplies the grounds and limits for receiving it.

§ 54

Oral evidence’s exception

§ 54 excluded document contents from oral proof — they are proved here.

lineage

IEA 1872, § 61

Carried forward — proof of the contents of documents.

Sources and reading note

BSA sections 56–60 and 64. Keep each cross-reference attached to its own function.

Explanatory corrections reviewed on 24 September 2026. Statutory quotation and commentary are kept separate.