Evidence Act, 2031

What does it do?

• The Evidence Act sets the rules of evidence for cases heard by the Supreme Court, High Courts, District Courts and any other court, judicial body or officer with power to decide cases. It lists what a court must examine as evidence, what needs no proof (for example, matters a court takes judicial notice of), and what a court may or must presume unless the contrary is proved.प्रमाण ऐनले सर्वोच्च अदालत, उच्च अदालत, जिल्ला अदालत र मुद्दा हेर्ने अधिकार पाएका अन्य अदालत, न्यायिक निकाय वा अधिकारीसमक्षको मुद्दामा प्रमाणसम्बन्धी नियम तोक्छ। अदालतले प्रमाणका रूपमा के बुझ्नुपर्छ, के कुरा प्रमाणित गर्नु पर्दैन (जस्तै अदालत आफैँले जानकारी लिने कुरा), र उल्टो प्रमाणित नभएसम्म अदालतले के अनुमान गर्छ वा गर्न सक्छ भन्ने यसमा उल्लेख छ। Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal Sections 1–2, p. 2; Sections 3–7, pp. 3–7
• A statement made by a party can be used against that party. In a criminal case, however, a confession made outside court is admissible only if the court finds that the accused was conscious and understood what he or she was saying, and that it was not obtained by force, torture or the threat of torture, or by a threat or promise from an official. Offers made to settle a dispute cannot be used against the party who made them.मुद्दाको कुनै पक्षले व्यक्त गरेको कुरा उसैविरुद्ध प्रमाणमा लिन सकिन्छ। तर फौजदारी मुद्दामा अभियुक्तले अदालतबाहिर गरेको साबिती तब मात्र प्रमाणमा लिइन्छ, जब अभियुक्त सचेत थियो र आफूले भनेको कुरा बुझ्न सक्ने अवस्थामा थियो, अनि बल प्रयोग, यातना वा यातनाको धम्की दिएर वा अधिकारीको धम्की वा आश्वासनबाट त्यो साबिती गराइएको होइन भनी अदालतले ठहर गर्छ। मिलापत्रको उद्देश्यले कुनै पक्षले दाबी छोड्न वा रकम दिन स्वीकार गरेको कुरा उसैविरुद्ध प्रमाणमा लिइँदैन। Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal Section 9(1)–(2), pp. 7–8
• In a criminal case the prosecution must prove the offence. In a civil case the party making a claim or defence must prove it. An accused who claims a ground for reduced punishment, exemption or release must prove that ground. Parties must list all their witnesses, documents and physical evidence in the complaint, statement or reply, and must bring their witnesses to court on the date set. Courts may take oral evidence by audio-video link.फौजदारी मुद्दामा अभियुक्तको कसुर प्रमाणित गर्ने भार वादीको हुन्छ। देवानी मुद्दामा आफ्नो दाबी वा प्रतिवाद प्रमाणित गर्ने भार सम्बन्धित पक्षकै हुन्छ। सजायमा कमी, छुट वा रिहाइ हुने कुराको जिकिर लिने प्रतिवादीले त्यो कुरा आफैँ प्रमाणित गर्नुपर्छ। पक्षहरूले उजुरी, फिरादपत्र, बयान वा प्रतिउत्तरपत्रमै आफ्ना सबै साक्षी, लिखत र दसी प्रमाण खुलाउनुपर्छ र अदालतले तोकेको दिन आफ्ना साक्षी उपस्थित गराउनुपर्छ। अदालतले श्रव्य–दृश्य संवादमार्फत मौखिक प्रमाण बुझ्न सक्छ। Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal Sections 25–27, p. 16; Sections 37A–37C, p. 21
• Anyone, including an accomplice or co-accused, may be a witness unless the court finds that age, illness or a similar reason prevents them from understanding questions or answering sensibly. People unable to speak may testify in writing or by signs. Some matters are protected: a person cannot be made to answer questions about their work as a judge; government employees need not disclose information received in official confidence if they believe disclosure would harm the public interest; police need not reveal the source of information about a crime; and lawyers may not disclose what their clients told them. Unpublished confidential government documents may be produced only with the permission of the head of department.उमेर, रोग वा त्यस्तै कारणले प्रश्न बुझ्न वा उचित जवाफ दिन नसक्ने भनी अदालतले ठहर गरेकोबाहेक मतियार र सहअभियुक्तसमेत जोसुकै साक्षी हुन सक्छ। बोल्न नसक्नेले लेखेर वा इसाराबाट गवाही दिन सक्छ। केही कुरा गोप्य राख्न पाइन्छ: न्यायाधीशको हैसियतमा गरेको कामबारे सोधिएको प्रश्नको जवाफ दिन कर लाग्दैन; पदीय विश्वासमा थाहा पाएको कुरा खुलाउँदा जनहितविपरीत हुने लागेमा सरकारी कर्मचारीलाई त्यो खुलाउन कर लाग्दैन; प्रहरीलाई अपराधको सूचनाको स्रोत खुलाउन कर लाग्दैन; र कानून व्यवसायीले पक्षले दिएको जानकारी खुलाउन पाउँदैन। सरकारी कार्यालयका अप्रकाशित गोप्य लिखत विभागीय प्रमुखको अनुमतिबिना पेश गर्न वा खुलाउन पाइँदैन। Nepal Law Commission, Government of Nepal Sections 38–39, p. 21; Sections 42–45, pp. 22–23

Gaps, loopholes and improvement ideas

None documented in the official reports we have reviewed so far.

Where does it conflict with other laws?

No conflict with another law is documented in the sources we have reviewed so far.