Rajasthan Judicial Service (RJS) Law of Evidence Syllabus

Rajasthan Judicial Service (RJS) Law of Evidence: topic-wise syllabus

1. 1

   Introduction and Classification of Evidence

   • Object and Scope of Evidence Law: Why Exclude Certain Evidence, Relevancy and Admissibility
   • Difference Between Indian Evidence Act 1872 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023: Key Changes
   • Fact: Factum Probans, Factum Probandum — Facts in Issue and Relevant Facts (Section 3)
   • Evidence: Oral and Documentary, Direct and Circumstantial, Primary and Secondary
   • Presumption of Fact and Law: May Presume, Shall Presume, Conclusive Proof (Section 4)
2. 2

   Relevancy of Facts (Sections 5-16 BSA / Sections 6-16 IEA)

   • Res Gestae (Section 6): Transactional Facts, Spontaneous Exclamations, Acts Accompanying/Explaining
   • Occasion, Cause, Effect of Facts in Issue (Section 7), Motive/Preparation/Conduct (Section 8)
   • Facts Necessary to Explain or Introduce (Section 9): Identification, Times, Place
   • Conspiracy Statements (Section 10): Rendezvous of Conspirators, Reasonable Ground
   • When Fact Not Otherwise Relevant Becomes Relevant (Sections 11-16): Inconsistent, Customs, State of Mind/Body
3. 3

   Admissions and Confessions (Sections 17-31 IEA / BSA 17-31)

   • Admission (Section 17): Definition, Who Can Make (Section 18), Against Whom Relevant
   • Admission in Civil Cases: When Conclusive, Evidentiary Value
   • Confession (Section 15 BSA / IEA 17): Judicial vs Extra-judicial, Retracted Confession
   • Confession to Police (Section 24 IEA / Section 23 BSA): Irrelevant, Custodial Confession, Police Custody
   • Confession Caused by Inducement/Threat/Promise (Section 24 IEA / Section 21 BSA)
   • Confession of Co-accused (Section 30 IEA / BSA): When Relevant, Evidentiary Value
   • Case Law: Pakala Narayana Swami v Emperor (Confession Definition); Sarwan Singh v State of Punjab (Extra-judicial Confession)
4. 4

   Dying Declaration and Expert Evidence (Sections 32-33, 45-51 IEA)

   • Dying Declaration (Section 32(1) IEA): When Death Person's Statement Relevant, Conditions, Evidentiary Value, Corroboration
   • Other Statements of Deceased Persons: Cause of Death (Section 32(1)), Course of Business (Section 32(2)), Pedigree (Section 32(6))
   • Opinion of Experts (Section 45): Handwriting, Fingerprints, Medical, Ballistics, DNA, Electronic
   • Opinion of Third Persons (Sections 46-51): Custom, Rights, Usage, Tenancy
   • Case Law: Sharad Birdhichand v State of Maharashtra (Dying Declaration); Khushal Rao v State of Bombay (Dying Declaration)
5. 5

   Burden of Proof and Estoppel (Sections 101-117 IEA)

   • Burden of Proof (Section 101): On Who Assert, Shifting During Trial
   • Burden on Prosecution in Criminal Cases, Reverse Onus (Dowry Death, NDPS, PMLA)
   • Presumptions as to Documents (Sections 81-90): Certified Copies, Wills, 30-Year-Old Documents
   • Estoppel (Section 115 IEA): Definition, Three Conditions: Representation, Reliance, Detriment
   • Kinds of Estoppel: Record, Deed, Pais/Conduct, Promissory Estoppel, Equitable Estoppel
   • Estoppel vs Res Judicata, No Estoppel Against Statute, Against Minor
6. 6

   Witnesses and Their Examination (Sections 118-167 IEA)

   • Competency of Witnesses (Section 118): All Competent Unless Prevented, Child, Lunatic, Deaf/Mute
   • Accused as Witness (Section 315 CrPC), Spousal Competence, Dumb Witnesses
   • Privileged Communications (Sections 121-132): Judges, Magistrates, Legal Advisers, Spouses (Section 122), Official (Section 123)
   • Examination-in-Chief, Cross-Examination, Re-examination (Sections 137-138)
   • Leading Questions (Section 142-143): When Permitted, Cross-examination Rules
   • Hostile Witnesses (Section 154): With Permission, Contradict Own Witness
   • Refreshing Memory (Sections 159-161), Production of Documents
7. 7

   Documentary and Oral Evidence (Sections 61-100 IEA)

   • Primary Evidence (Section 62): The Document Itself, Best Evidence Rule
   • Secondary Evidence (Section 63): Copies, Oral Account, When Admissible (Section 65)
   • Public vs Private Documents (Sections 74-78), Certified Copies
   • Presumptions as to Documents (Sections 79-90 A): Gazettes, Electronic, Certified Copies
   • Exclusion of Oral by Documentary Evidence (Sections 91-100): Best Evidence Rule, Variations of Written Terms
8. 8

   Electronic Evidence and Digital Records

   • Electronic Records as Evidence: Section 65A-65B IEA, Section 63-64 BSA 2023
   • Admissibility: Certificate Under Section 65B(4), Electronic Signature
   • Key Changes in BSA 2023: Electronic Evidence Expanded, Oral Evidence Includes Electronic
   • Case Law: Anvar P V v P K Basheer (Section 65B); Shafhi Mohammad v State of HP; Arjun Pandit Rao v State of Karnataka