The Law Commission has recommended amendment to a sub-rule of Code of Civil Procedure to remove an anomaly for the convenience of courts, lawyers, litigants, and the general public. The report "Urgent need to amend Rule 14 (4) of Order VII of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908" was submitted to the government earlier this week. In its 18-page report, the Commission, headed by Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi (retd) pointed out that in sub-rule (4) of Rule 14 of Order VII, mention is made of the cross- examination of the plaintiff's witnesses. The words "plaintiff's witnesses" mentioned in sub-rule (4) of Rule 14 of Order VII require to be corrected as "defendant's witnesses", it said. "A plaintiff cannot, except as provided in Section 154 of the Evidence Act, put questions which might be put in cross-examination to his own witnesses. "Sub-rule (3) of Rule 1 of Order XIII also makes the position clear when the expression "cross- examination of the witness of the other party" is employed .
The 22nd law panel was constituted for three years on February 21, 2020 and its chairperson, Justice Rituraj Awasthi (retd), assumed office on November 9, 2022
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