What Is BSA Section 17?

Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 - Section 17: Admissions by persons whose position must be proved as against party to suit.

Statements made by persons whose position or liability, it is necessary to prove as against any party to the suit, are admissions, if such statements would be relevant as against such persons in relation to such position or liability in a suit brought by or against them, and if they are made whilst the person making them occupies such position or is subject to such liability.

Illustration:

A undertakes to collect rents for B. B sues A for not collecting rent due from C to B. A denies that rent was due from C to B. A statement by C that he owed B rent is an admission, and is a relevant fact as against A, if A denies that C did owe rent to B.

Brief Detail

This section clarifies that statements made by individuals whose positions or liabilities must be established against a party in a suit are considered admissions. Key points include:

• Such statements are deemed admissions if they are relevant to the person's position or liability in the context of the suit.
• These statements must be made while the individual occupies that position or is subject to that liability.
• An example illustrates how admissions can impact the outcome of a legal dispute involving claims of rent.

Question & Answers

What are considered admissions under Section 17?

Statements made by individuals whose positions or liabilities need to be proved against a party in the suit, if those statements are relevant to the case.

When are these statements deemed admissions?

They are deemed admissions if made while the person occupies the relevant position or is subject to the relevant liability.

Can you provide an example of how this works?

Yes, if A is tasked with collecting rent for B and denies that C owes rent, a statement from C confirming he owes rent would be an admission relevant to A's position.

What is the significance of the relevance of these statements?

The relevance ensures that the statements made contribute meaningfully to proving the position or liability in the suit.

Example

Example of an admission regarding liability:

If a tenant (C) states, I owe rent to the landlord (B), this admission directly impacts A's responsibility in collecting that rent.

Example of a position affecting admission:

If a property manager (A) claiming no rent is due, while a tenant (C) states otherwise, creates a relevant admission against A.

Illustrative scenario:

If B sues A for negligence in a contract, and C, a witness, confirms that A failed to fulfill the contract terms, this statement acts as an admission relevant to A's liability.

Summary

Section 17 of the Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 establishes that admissions can be made by individuals whose positions or liabilities must be demonstrated against a party in a legal suit. Statements are deemed admissions if they are pertinent and made during the time the individual holds that position or is subject to that liability, as illustrated by the example of rent collection.