Secondary Evidence

It is generally in the form of compared copies, certified copies or copies made by such mechanical processes as in themselves ensure accuracy. Section 63 defines the kind of secondary evidence permitted by the Act. According to this section, it means include:-

• Certified copies given under the provisions hereafter contained.
• Copies made from the original by mechanical processes which in themselves ensures the accuracy of the copy and copies companies compared with such copies.
• Copies made from or compared with the original.
• Counterparts of documents as against the parties who did not execute them.
• Oral accounts of the contents of a document given by some person who has himself seen it.

According to section 65 of the Act, where primary evidence can be provided, secondary evidence should not be used. It should only be given where the original document is not available because it has been lost or destroyed, or it is otherwise unavailable because it is under the control of some public authority's control.