Indian Evidence Act, 1872 · Chapter IV: Of Oral Evidence
Section 59: Proof of facts by oral evidence
The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 was repealed and replaced by the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 from 1 July 2024. It still applies to matters and proceedings from before that date, as the repealing law provides.
In plain words
All facts can be proved by oral evidence, except the contents of documents or electronic records.
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
All facts, except the [contents of documents or electronic records], may be proved by oral evidence.
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 (Legislative Department), the text of the Act as it stood before its repeal. 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.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 59
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State of Karnataka v. T. Naseer @ Nasir @ Thandiantavida
The High Court rejected the applications filed by the prosecution u/s. 311 of the Cr.P.C., seeking recall of PW-189 and to permit the prosecution to produce the report and the certificate u/s. 65B of the Evidence Act,…
- Neeraj Dutta v. State (Govt. of N.C.T. of Delhi)
- The State of Maharashtra & Anr. v. Dr. Maroti S/O Kashinath Pimpalkar
- Arjun Panditrao Khotkar v. Kailash Kushanrao Gorantyal and Ors.
- Vikram Singh @ Vicky Walia and Anr. v. State of Punjab and Anr.
- Anvar P.V. v. P.K. Basheer and Ors.