PROOF OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS

1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Proof of Public Documents Ordinance.

2. Whenever it shall be necessary for any person to adduce proof in any Court of Justice, or before any person now or hereafter having, by law or consent of parties, authority to hear, receive, and examine evidence of the contents of any book or document in any public office or in charge of any public officer, he shall only produce a copy or extract therefrom, signed and certified by the officer to whose custody the original is intrusted, and such copy or extract shall be admissible in evidence in such court, or before such person, in place of the original:

Provided that it shall be lawful for the Judge, or person presiding in such court, or such other person as aforesaid, to require (upon his being satisfied that in any particular cause or inquiry such production is necessary for the ends of justice) that the original of such book or document should be produced in addition to the copy as aforesaid.

3. Public officers to whose custody the originals of such books or documents are intrusted are hereby required to furnish certified copies or extracts therefrom on payment, by the party applying therefor, of a fee of thirty-six cents for every folio of one hundred and twenty words, or of one rupee for each copy of a title deed plan on tracing cloth, and three rupees for each copy on drawing paper, such fees to be appropriated in such manner as the Minister of Finance shall from time to time appoint.