The Commercial Documents Evidence Act, 1939

(1) This Act may be called the Commercial Documents EvidenceAct, 1939. (2) It extends to the whole of India except 1[the territories which, immediately before the1st November, 1956, were comprised in Part B States]. STATE AMENDMENT Karnataka Amendment of Central Act XXX of 1939.--In sub-section (2) of section 1 of the CommercialDocuments Evidence Act, 1939 (Central Act XXX of 1939), after the words and letter “in Part B States”the words, brackets, figures and letters “other than the territories specified in clause (a) and clause (c) ofsub-section (1) of section 7 of the [States Re-organisation Act, 1956 (Central Act XXXVII of 1956)”]shall be added. [Vide Karnataka Act 33 of 1978, s. 7].

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872), statementsof facts in issue or of relevant fact made in any document included in the Schedule as to matters usuallystated in such document shall be themselves relevant facts within the meaning of that Act.

For the purposes of the IndianEvidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872), and notwithstanding anything contained therein, a Court-- (a) shall presume, within the meaning of that Act, in relation to documents included inPart I of the Schedule, and (b) may presume, within the meaning of that Act, in relation to documents included inPart II of the Schedule,-- that any document purporting to be a document included in Part I or Part II of the Schedule, asthe case may be, and to have been duly made by or under the appropriate authority, was so madeand that the statements contained therein are accurate.

In the Schedule the expression "recognised Chamber of Commerce" means aChamber of Commerce recognised by the Government of its country as being competent to issue certificates of origin, and includes any other association similarly recognised.