Summary
In the Assam–Nagaland boundary suit, the Supreme Court permitted production of additional Survey of India topographical maps while the relevant witness’s evidence was being recorded. The maps had not been in Assam’s possession, and earlier leave to produce other maps did not bar the present request. Permission concerned production alone; relevance, admissibility and Nagaland’s objections and defences remained open.
Issues
- Whether additional maps could be produced during the Survey of India witness’s evidence despite earlier document-production orders.
Provisions considered
- Order XI Rule 14 and Order VII Rule 14, Code of Civil Procedure, 1908Considered the power to permit document production and leave for documents not earlier produced, allowing the request in the interests of justice without determining evidentiary admissibility. (¶¶ 2, 3, 4)
Held
- The witness’s evidence was still being recorded and the documents were held by the Survey of India rather than the applicant. The earlier order did not prevent a further production request; production was allowed in the interests of justice. (¶¶ 1, 2, 3)
- The order did not decide relevance or admissibility. Nagaland remained free to raise advised objections and appropriate defences. (¶¶ 3, 4)
Result
Interlocutory application allowed for production of the identified maps, subject to unresolved relevance and admissibility objections; no boundary merits determined.