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Friday, 13 November 2026 Judgments, law jobs and study notes, written by a practising advocate
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 · Order XXVI: Commissions

Order XXVI Rule 4 CPC: Persons for whose examination commission may issue

Bare Act text

4. Persons for whose examination commission may issue.—(1) Any Court may in any suit issue a commission [for the examination on interrogatories or otherwise of—]

(a) any person resident beyond the local limits of its jurisdiction;

(b) any person who is about to leave such limits before the date on which he is required to be examined in Court; and

(c) [any person in the service of the Government] who cannot in the opinion of the Court, attend without detriment to the public service:

[Provided that where, under rule 19 of Order XVI, a person cannot be ordered to attend a Court in person, a commission shall be issued for his examination if his evidence is considered necessary in the interests of justice:

Provided further that a commission for examination of such person on interrogatories shall not be issued unless the Court, for reasons to be recorded, thinks it necessary so to do.]

(2) Such commission may be issued to any Court, not being a High Court, within the local limits of whose jurisdiction such person resides, or to any pleader or other person whom the Court issuing the commission may appoint.

(3) The Court on issuing any commission under this rule shall direct whether the commission shall be returned to itself or to any subordinate Court.

Amendment notes

  1. Subs. by s. 75, ibid., for “for the examination of” (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).
  2. Subs. by the A.O 1937, for “any civil or military officer of the Government”.
  3. Ins. by Act 104 of 1976, s. 75 (w.e.f. 1-2-1977).

Text of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act No. 5 of 1908), First Schedule, as amended, including the changes for commercial disputes made by the Commercial Courts Act, 2015. Source: India Code, Government of India.

In simple words

A Court may issue a commission for examining, on interrogatories or otherwise, a person resident beyond its local limits, a person about to leave those limits before the date fixed for examination, or a Government servant who cannot attend without detriment to public service. Where rule 19 of Order XVI exempts a person from personal attendance, a commission must issue if his evidence is necessary in the interests of justice. The commission may go to a Court other than a High Court or to a pleader or other person, and the Court directs where it is returned.

Order XXVI: Commissions

  1. 1 Cases in which Court may issue commission to examine witness
  2. 2 Order for commission
  3. 3 Where witness resides within Court’s jurisdiction
  4. 4 Persons for whose examination commission may issue
  5. 4A Commission for examination of any person resident within the local limits of the jurisdiction of the Court
  6. 5 Commission or request to examine witness not within India
  7. 6 Court to examine witness pursuant to commission
  8. 7 Return of commission with depositions of witnesses
  9. 8 When depositions may be read in evidence
  10. 9 Commissions to make local investigations
  11. 10 Procedure of Commissioner
  12. 10A Commission for scientific investigation
  13. 10B Commission for performance of a ministerial act
  14. 10C Commission for the sale of movable property
  15. 11 Commission to examine or adjust accounts
  16. 12 Court to give Commissioner necessary instructions
  17. 13 Commission to make partition of immovable property
  18. 14 Procedure of Commissioner
  19. 15 Expenses of commission to be paid into Court
  20. 16 Powers of Commissioners
  21. 16A Questions objected to before the Commissioner
  22. 17 Attendance and examination of witnesses before Commissioner
  23. 18 Parties to appear before Commissioner
  24. 18A Application of order to execution proceedings
  25. 18B Court to fix a time for return of Commission
  26. 19 Cases in which High Court may issue commission to examine witness
  27. 20 Application for issue of commission
  28. 21 To whom commission may be issued
  29. 22 Issue, execution and return of commissions, and transmission of evidence to foreign Court