Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
BSA Section 41
Opinion as to handwriting and signature, when relevant
In one line
BSA Section 41 deals with opinion as to handwriting and signature, when relevant and replaces Evidence Act 47 (now 41(1)), Evidence Act 47A (now 41(2)).
Bare act text — BSA 41
41. Opinion as to handwriting and signature, when relevant.
(1) When the Court has to form an opinion as to the person by whom any document was written or signed, the opinion of any person acquainted with the handwriting of the person by whom it is supposed to be written or signed that it was or was not written or signed by that person, is a relevant fact. Explanation.--A person is said to be acquainted with the handwriting of another person when he has seen that person write, or when he has received documents purporting to be written by that person in answer to documents written by himself or under his authority and addressed to that person, or when, in the ordinary course of business, documents purporting to be written by that person have been habitually submitted to him. Illustration The question is, whether a given letter is in the handwriting of A, a merchant in Itanagar. B is a merchant in Bengaluru, who has written letters addressed to A and received letters purporting to be written by him. C, is B's clerk whose duty it was to examine and file B's correspondence. D is B's broker, to whom B habitually submitted the letters purporting to be written by A for the purpose of advising him thereon. The opinions of B, C and D on the question whether the letter is in the handwriting of A are relevant, though neither B, C nor D ever saw A write.
(2) When the Court has to form an opinion as to the electronic signature of any person, the opinion of the Certifying Authority which has issued the Electronic Signature Certificate is a relevant fact.
What changed from the Evidence Act
- Evidence Act 47 → BSA 41(1): Words "and signature" are added in heading.
- Evidence Act 47A → BSA 41(2): Heading is dropped as section is added as a subsection.
Frequently asked
What was BSA Section 41 in the Evidence Act?
BSA Section 41 (Opinion as to handwriting and signature, when relevant) replaces Sections 47, 47A of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. Evidence Act 47 is now BSA 41(1). Evidence Act 47A is now BSA 41(2).
Still citing the Evidence Act? Convert any old section in seconds, or keep the whole case — dates, clients and sections — in one diary.
Nearby BSA sections
- BSA 36 — Relevancy and effect of judgments, orders or decrees, other than those mentioned in section 35
- BSA 37 — Judgments, etc., other than those mentioned in sections 34, 35 and 36 when relevant
- BSA 38 — Fraud or collusion in obtaining judgment, or incompetency of Court, may be proved
- BSA 39 — Opinions of experts
- BSA 40 — Facts bearing upon opinions of experts
- BSA 42 — Opinion as to existence of general custom or right, when relevant
- BSA 43 — Opinion as to usages, tenets, etc., when relevant
- BSA 44 — Opinion on relationship, when relevant
- BSA 45 — Grounds of opinion, when relevant
- BSA 46 — In civil cases character to prove conduct imputed, irrelevant
