THE BANKERS’ BOOKS EVIDENCE ACT, 1891 The Bankers’ Books Evidence Act of 1891 is an important piece of legislation in Pakistan that deals with the admissibility of bank records as evidence in legal proceedings. This act outlines the procedures and conditions under which the books, registers, and documents maintained by banks can be used as evidence in courts. It plays a crucial role in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of financial records in legal disputes SECTIONS: Title and extent. Definitions. Power to extend provisions of Act. Mode of proof of entries bankers’ books. Case in which officer of bank not compellable to produce books. Inspection of books by order of Court or Judge. Costs. Page 1 of 6 THE BANKERS’ BOOKS EVIDENCE ACT, 1891 1ACT No. XVIII OF 1891 [1st October, 1891] An Act to amend the Law of Evidence with respect to Bankers’ Books. WHEREAS it is expedient to amend the Law of Evidence with respect to Bankers’ Books; It is hereby enacted as follows:__ Title and extent.__ (1) This Act may be called the Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 1891. 1For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Gazette of India, 1891, Pt. v, P. 24: for report of the Select Committe, see ibid., p. 189, and for Proceedings in Council, see ibid., Pt. VI, pp. 15, 25, 117, 135 and 140. The Act has been declared to be in force in Baluchistan by the British Baluchistan Laws Regulation, 1913 (2 of 1913). It has also been extended to the Leased Areas of Baluchistan, see the Leased Areas (Laws) Order, 1950 (G. G.O. 3 of 1950); and applied in the Federated Areas of Baluchistan, see Gazette of India, 1937, Pt. I, p. 1499. The Act and the rules, notifications and orders made thereunder, have been applied to the whole of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas or to the parts of those Areas to which they do not already apply, by Regulation No.I of 1975, s. 2 and the Schedule. The Act and the rules, notifications and orders made thereunder, as in force in N.W.F.P. before the 15th July, 1975, have been applied to the Districts of Chitral, Dir and Swat and Malakand Protected Areas of the N.W.F.P. by Reg. No. III of 1975, s. 2 and Sch. Page 2 of 6 1 [(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan]; 2* 2* * * * * * * Definitions. In this Act, unless there is something repugnant in the subject or context,__ 3 [(1) “company” means a company registered under any of the enactments relating to companies for the time being in force in any part of His Majesty’s dominions or incorporated by an Act of Parliament 4 [of the United Kingdom] or by an 5 [Pakistan] law or by Royal Charter or by Letters Patent:] (2) “bank” and “banker” mean __ (a) any company carrying on the business of bankers, (b) any partnership or individual to whose books the provisions of this Act shall have been extended as hereinafter provided, 6 [(c) any post office savings bank or money order office:] (3) “bankers’ books” include ledgers, daybooks, cashbooks, accountbooks and all other books used in the ordinary business of a bank: (4) “legal proceeding” means any proceeding or inquiry in which evidence is or may be given, and includes an arbitration: (5) “the Court” means the person or persons before whom a legal proceeding is held or taken: (6) “Judge” means a Judge of a High Court: (7) “trial” means any hearing before the Court at which evidence is taken: and (8) “certified copy” means a copy of any entry in the books of a bank together with a certificate written at the foot of such copy that it is a true copy of such entry, that such entry is contained in one of the ordinary books of the bank and was made in the usual and ordinary course of business, and that such book is still in the custody of the bank, such certificate being dated and subscribed by the principal accountant or manager of the bank with his name and official title. 1Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (21 of 1960), s. 3 and 2nd Sch., (with effect fromthe 14th October, 1955), for the originalsubsection (2) as amended by A. O., 1949, Arts. 3 (2) and 4. 2The word “and” at the end of subsection (2), and subsection (3) rep. by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1914 (10 of 1914). 3Subs. by A. O., 1937, for previous definition which had been subs., for original definition by the Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 1900 (12 of 1900). 4 lns. by A, O., 1961, Art. 2 and Sch., (with effect fromthe 23rd March, 1956). 5Subs. by A. O., 1949, Sch., for “India”. 6Cl. (c) was added by s. 2 of the Bankers’ Books Evidence Act, 1893 (1 of 1893). Page 3 of 6 Power to extend provisions of Act. The 1 [Provincial Government] may, from time to time, by notification in the official Gazette, extend the provisions of the Act to the books of any partnership or individual carrying on the business of bankers within the territories under its administration, and keeping a set of not less than three ordinary account books, namely, a cashbook, a daybook or journal, and a ledger, and may in like manner rescind any such notification. Mode of proof of entries bankers’ books. Subject to the provisions of this Act, a certified copy of any entry in a banker’s book shall in all legal proceedings be received as prima facie evidence of the existence of such entry, and shall be admitted as evidence of the matters, transactions and accounts therein recorded in every case where, and to the same extent as, the original entry itself is now by law admissible, but not further or otherwise. Case in which officer of bank not compellable to produce books. No officer of a bank shall in any legal proceeding to which the bank
