Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 · Chapter VI: Of the Exclusion of Oral Evidence by Documentary Evidence
Section 96: Exclusion of evidence to explain or amend ambiguous document
In plain words
When the language of a document is, on its face, ambiguous or defective, evidence cannot be given to show what it meant or to fill in the gaps.
Example: A agrees in writing to sell a horse for "one lakh rupees or one lakh fifty thousand rupees". Evidence cannot be given to show which price was meant.
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
When the language used in a document is, on its face, ambiguous or defective, evidence may not be given of facts which would show its meaning or supply its defects.
Illustrations
(a) A agrees, in writing, to sell a horse to B for "one lakh rupees or one lakh fifty thousand rupees". Evidence cannot be given to show which price was to be given.
(b) A deed contains blanks. Evidence cannot be given of facts which would show how they were meant to be filled.
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 96
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.