IEA §47BSA §41

Opinion as to handwriting, when relevant

ModifiedConfidence: mediumStatus: cross checkedconsolidation context(precautionary)
Last updated 2026-05-01 · Input coverage: full

Compiled by AI-assisted tools. Verify current status against official sources. Last updated: 2026-04-28.

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Comparison

Old law
IEA §47
Opinion as to handwriting, when relevant

47. Opinion as to hand-writing, when relevant.––When the Court has to form an opinion as to the person by whom any document was written or signed, the opinion of any person acquainted with the handwriting of the person by whom it is supposed to be written or signed that it was or was not written or signed by that person, is a relevant fact. Explanation.––A person is said to be acquainted with the hand-writing of another person when he has seen that person write, or when he has received documents purporting to be written by that person in answer to documents written by himself or under his authority and addressed to that person, or when, in the ordinary course of business, documents purporting to be written by that person have been habitually submitted to him. 1. Ins. by Act 10 of 2009, s. 52 (w.e.f. 27-10-2009). Illustration The question is, whether a given letter is in the hand-writing of A, a merchant in London. B is a merchant in Calcutta, who has written letters addressed to A and received letters purporting to be written by him. C, is B’s clerk whose duty it was to examine and file B’s correspondence. D is B’s broker, to whom B habitually submitted the letters purporting to be written by A for the purpose of advising with him thereon. The opinions of B, C and D on the question whether the letter is in the handwriting of A are relevant, though neither B, C nor D ever saw A write.

New law
BSA §41
Opinion as to handwriting and signature when relevant.

41.

(1) When the Court has to form an opinion as to the person by whom any document was written or signed, the opinion of any person acquainted with the handwriting of the person by whom it is supposed to be written or signed that it was or was not written or signed by that person, is a relevant fact. Explanation.—A person is said to be acquainted with the handwriting of another person when he has seen that person write, or when he has received documents purporting to be written by that person in answer to documents written by himself or under his authority and addressed to that person, or when, in the ordinary course of business, documents purporting to be written by that person have been habitually submitted to him. Illustration. The question is, whether a given letter is in the handwriting of A, a merchant in Itanagar. B is a merchant in Bengaluru, who has written letters addressed toAand received letters purporting to be written by him. C, is B's clerk whose duty it was to examine and file B's correspondence. D is B's broker, to whom B habitually submitted the letters purporting to be written by A for the purpose of advising him thereon. The opinions of B, C and D on the question whether the letter is in the handwriting of A are relevant, though neither B, C nor D ever sawAwrite.

(2) When the Court has to form an opinion as to the electronic signature of any person, the opinion of the Certifying Authority which has issued the Electronic Signature Certificate is a relevant fact.

What changedAI-inferred

Opinion as to handwriting when relevant.

Old position

IEA 47 is concerned with Opinion as to handwriting, when relevant. Opinion as to hand-writing, when relevant

New position

BSA 41 preserves the framework with drafting modernisations as required by the new code. Topic: Opinion as to handwriting and signature when relevant.. When the Court has to form an opinion as to the person by whom any document was written or signed, the opinion of any person acquainted with the handwriting of the person by whom it is supposed to be written or signed that it was or was

BSA 41 (Opinion as to handwriting and signature when relevant.) preserves the framework of IEA 47. BSA 41 retains the operative provisions in substantively the same form, with drafting modernisation and structural updates as required by the new code. BSA 41 text: When the Court has to form an...

Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)

BSA 41 (Opinion as to handwriting and signature when relevant.) preserves the framework of IEA 47. BSA 41 retains the operative provisions in substantively the same form, with drafting modernisation and structural updates as required by the new code.

BSA 41 text: When the Court has to form an opinion as to the person by whom any document was written or signed, the opinion of any person acquainted with the handwriting of the person by whom it is supposed to be written or signed that it was or was not written or signed by that person, is a relevant fact. Explanation.—A person is...

Transitional note (repeal & savings)

For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, IEA 47 continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BSA 41 applies. The transition is governed by the repeal-and-savings clause in the new code (BNS 358 / BNSS 531 / BSA 170 as the case may be); pending proceedings under the old code carry forward unaffected.

Frequently asked

BSA 41 (Opinion as to handwriting and signature when relevant.). The relationship is classified as substantively_same — see the change-note above for the textual delta.

Sources

Cite this page

Newlaws.in, IEA §47 → BSA §41 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-06-14, https://newlaws.in/iea/47.

Compiled using AI-assisted tools · Source-linked · Last updated 2026-05-01

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