Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 · Chapter X: Of Examination of Witnesses
Section 163: Testimony to facts stated in document mentioned in section 162
In plain words
A witness can testify to facts recorded in such a document even without specific memory of them, if they are sure the facts were correctly recorded.
Example: A book-keeper can testify to entries in books he kept regularly, if he knows they were correctly kept, even if he has forgotten the particular transactions.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
A witness may also testify to facts mentioned in any such document as is mentioned in section 162, although he has no specific recollection of the facts themselves, if he is sure that the facts were correctly recorded in the document.
Illustration
A book-keeper may testify to facts recorded by him in books regularly kept in the course of business, if he knows that the books were correctly kept, although he has forgotten the particular transactions entered.
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 25 August 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 163
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.