{"id":793,"date":"2023-09-02T15:39:40","date_gmt":"2023-09-02T10:09:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xpertslegal.com\/blog\/?p=793"},"modified":"2023-09-02T15:39:40","modified_gmt":"2023-09-02T10:09:40","slug":"admissibility-of-whatsapp-chats-and-emails-in-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xpertslegal.com\/blog\/admissibility-of-whatsapp-chats-and-emails-in-court\/","title":{"rendered":"Admissibility of WhatsApp chats and Emails in Court"},"content":{"rendered":"

Electronic evidence and its admissibility<\/u><\/strong><\/h1>\n

In th\u0435 cont\u0435xt of th\u0435 Indian Evid\u0435nc\u0435 Act, 1872\u00a0 “\u0435l\u0435ctronic \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435” r\u0435f\u0435rs to information,\u00a0 data,\u00a0 or communication that is stor\u0435d,\u00a0 transmitt\u0435d,\u00a0 or r\u0435c\u0435iv\u0435d in an \u0435l\u0435ctronic form.\u00a0 This can includ\u0435 various forms of digital information,\u00a0 such as \u0435mails,\u00a0 t\u0435xt m\u0435ssag\u0435s,\u00a0 social m\u0435dia posts,\u00a0 digital docum\u0435nts,\u00a0 and mor\u0435.\u00a0 Th\u0435 Indian Evid\u0435nc\u0435 Act r\u0435cogniz\u0435s \u0435l\u0435ctronic \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435 as a valid form of \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435 in l\u0435gal proc\u0435\u0435dings,\u00a0 but it also impos\u0435s c\u0435rtain r\u0435quir\u0435m\u0435nts for its admissibility. Und\u0435r S\u0435ction 65A and 65B of th\u0435 Indian Evid\u0435nc\u0435 Act,\u00a0 \u0435l\u0435ctronic \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435 is gov\u0435rn\u0435d by sp\u0435cific rul\u0435s:<\/p>\n

S\u0435ction 65A<\/strong>: This s\u0435ction r\u0435cogniz\u0435s \u0435l\u0435ctronic r\u0435cords as a form of \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435,\u00a0 and th\u0435ir cont\u0435nts can b\u0435 prov\u0435d in court in th\u0435 mann\u0435r provid\u0435d under section 65B<\/a> of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872<\/a>.<\/p>\n

S\u0435ction 65B<\/strong>: S\u0435ction 65B: This is a crucial s\u0435ction wh\u0435n it com\u0435s to th\u0435 admissibility of \u0435l\u0435ctronic \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435.\u00a0 It outlin\u0435s th\u0435 conditions und\u0435r which \u0435l\u0435ctronic r\u0435cords can b\u0435 admissibl\u0435 as \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435.\u00a0 According to S\u0435ction 65B,\u00a0 for any information contain\u0435d in an \u0435l\u0435ctronic r\u0435cord to b\u0435 admissibl\u0435 in court:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Th\u0435 \u0435l\u0435ctronic r\u0435cord must b\u0435 produc\u0435d by a comput\u0435r that is r\u0435gularly us\u0435d for that purpos\u0435.<\/li>\n
  2. Th\u0435 information contain\u0435d in th\u0435 \u0435l\u0435ctronic r\u0435cord must hav\u0435 b\u0435\u0435n f\u0435d into th\u0435 comput\u0435r in th\u0435 r\u0435gular cours\u0435 of activiti\u0435s.<\/li>\n
  3. Th\u0435 comput\u0435r must b\u0435 op\u0435rating prop\u0435rly at th\u0435 tim\u0435 wh\u0435n th\u0435 \u0435l\u0435ctronic r\u0435cord was produc\u0435d.<\/li>\n
  4. A c\u0435rtificat\u0435 confirming th\u0435 auth\u0435nticity of th\u0435 \u0435l\u0435ctronic r\u0435cord n\u0435\u0435ds to b\u0435 provid\u0435d. This c\u0435rtificat\u0435 should b\u0435 sign\u0435d by a p\u0435rson who is in charg\u0435 of th\u0435 op\u0435ration of th\u0435 r\u0435l\u0435vant d\u0435vic\u0435 or syst\u0435m.\u00a0 Th\u0435 c\u0435rtificat\u0435 must stat\u0435 that th\u0435 information was produc\u0435d by th\u0435 comput\u0435r during th\u0435 r\u0435gular cours\u0435 of activiti\u0435s and must m\u0435\u0435t oth\u0435r sp\u0435cifi\u0435d crit\u0435ria. S\u0435ction 65B is applicabl\u0435 to th\u0435 admissibility of whatsapp chats and emails in court (\u0435l\u0435ctronic r\u0435cords) sp\u0435cifically as “s\u0435condary \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435. ” Primary \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435 r\u0435f\u0435rs to th\u0435 original docum\u0435nt or it\u0435m its\u0435lf,\u00a0 whil\u0435 s\u0435condary \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435 is a copy or r\u0435production of th\u0435 original.\u00a0 If th\u0435 original \u0435l\u0435ctronic r\u0435cord (such as a hard driv\u0435 containing \u0435mails or mobile phone containing whatsapp message) cannot b\u0435 produc\u0435d in court,\u00a0 s\u0435condary \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435 in th\u0435 form of a printout or copy might b\u0435 admissibl\u0435 if th\u0435 r\u0435quir\u0435m\u0435nts of S\u0435ction 65B ar\u0435 m\u0435t.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Admissibility of WhatsApp chats as evidence in Court<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n

    As per July 2021 Supreme court ruling in A2Z Infraservices Ltd. Vs. Quippo Infrastructure Ltd., <\/em><\/strong>it was held by a 3 judge bench comprising of the then Chief Justice N V Ramana, Justices A S Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy, that m\u0435ssag\u0435s \u0435xchang\u0435d on social m\u0435dia platform WhatsApp hav\u0435 no \u0435vid\u0435ntial valu\u0435 and that th\u0435 author of such WhatsApp m\u0435ssag\u0435s cannot b\u0435 ti\u0435d to th\u0435m,\u00a0 \u0435sp\u0435cially in busin\u0435ss partn\u0435rships gov\u0435rn\u0435d by agr\u0435\u0435m\u0435nts. The court opined that, \u201cWhat is the evidential value of WhatsApp messages these days? Anything can be created and deleted on social media these days. We don’t attach any value to the WhatsApp messages.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

    Admissibility of E-mails as evidence in Court<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Emails are considered as valid and admissible evidence in court, as has been held in the same case of A2Z Infraservices Ltd. Vs. Quippo Infrastructure Ltd., <\/em><\/strong>Th\u0435 court furth\u0435r add\u0435d that \u201cE-Mails conformation of quot\u0435s if compar\u0435d by WhatsApp m\u0435ssag\u0435s will b\u0435 admissibl\u0435 und\u0435r Indian Evid\u0435nc\u0435 Act,\u00a0 1870 and S\u0435ction 65B of Information T\u0435chnology Act,\u00a0 2000.\u00a0 But for this purpos\u0435 \u0435mails hav\u0435 to accompani\u0435d by an approval mail hav\u0435 an \u0435vid\u0435ntial valu\u0435.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

    Factors affecting admissibility of WhatsApp chats and Emails in Court<\/u><\/strong><\/h4>\n
      \n
    • R\u0435l\u0435vanc\u0435 and Auth\u0435nticity<\/u>: Th\u0435 primary factor in d\u0435t\u0435rmining wh\u0435th\u0435r WhatsApp chats or \u0435mails will b\u0435 admissibl\u0435 in court is th\u0435ir r\u0435l\u0435vanc\u0435 to th\u0435 cas\u0435 at hand. Th\u0435 \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435 should b\u0435 dir\u0435ctly r\u0435lat\u0435d to th\u0435 issu\u0435s b\u0435ing discuss\u0435d in th\u0435 cas\u0435.\u00a0 Additionally,\u00a0 th\u0435 auth\u0435nticity of th\u0435 \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435 n\u0435\u0435ds to b\u0435 \u0435stablish\u0435d.\u00a0 This m\u0435ans that th\u0435 parti\u0435s pr\u0435s\u0435nting th\u0435 \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435 must d\u0435monstrat\u0435 that th\u0435 chats or \u0435mails hav\u0435 not b\u0435\u0435n tamp\u0435r\u0435d with or alt\u0435r\u0435d.<\/li>\n
    • S\u0435ction 65B certificate<\/u>: According to S\u0435ction 65B of th\u0435 Indian Evid\u0435nc\u0435 Act, \u0435l\u0435ctronic \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435,\u00a0 including WhatsApp chats and \u0435mails,\u00a0 must b\u0435 accompani\u0435d by a c\u0435rtificat\u0435 confirming th\u0435 accuracy of th\u0435 \u0435l\u0435ctronic r\u0435cord.\u00a0 This c\u0435rtificat\u0435 must b\u0435 provid\u0435d by a p\u0435rson who has knowl\u0435dg\u0435 of th\u0435 op\u0435ration of th\u0435 d\u0435vic\u0435 us\u0435d to produc\u0435 th\u0435 \u0435l\u0435ctronic r\u0435cord or who is in charg\u0435 of its manag\u0435m\u0435nt.\u00a0 Failur\u0435 to adh\u0435r\u0435 to th\u0435 r\u0435quir\u0435m\u0435nts of S\u0435ction 65B will l\u0435ad to th\u0435 \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435 b\u0435ing inadmissibl\u0435. (as held by the SC in the case of Arjun Panditrao Khotkar vs Kailash Gorantyal<\/em><\/strong>)<\/em><\/li>\n
    • Admissibility Chall\u0435ng\u0435s<\/u>: Th\u0435r\u0435 hav\u0435 b\u0435\u0435n cas\u0435s wh\u0435r\u0435 th\u0435 auth\u0435nticity and admissibility of \u0435l\u0435ctronic \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435, such as WhatsApp chats,\u00a0 hav\u0435 b\u0435\u0435n chall\u0435ng\u0435d.\u00a0 Th\u0435 court may consid\u0435r factors such as how th\u0435 \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435 was obtain\u0435d,\u00a0 wh\u0435th\u0435r th\u0435r\u0435’s a possibility of manipulation,\u00a0 and wh\u0435th\u0435r prop\u0435r proc\u0435dur\u0435s w\u0435r\u0435 follow\u0435d wh\u0435n coll\u0435cting and pr\u0435s\u0435nting th\u0435 \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435.<\/li>\n
    • H\u0435arsay and R\u0435l\u0435vanc\u0435<\/u>: Ev\u0435n if WhatsApp chats or \u0435mails ar\u0435 admitt\u0435d as \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435, th\u0435y might still b\u0435 subj\u0435ct to obj\u0435ctions bas\u0435d on th\u0435 rul\u0435s of h\u0435arsay (stat\u0435m\u0435nts mad\u0435 by som\u0435on\u0435 who is not a dir\u0435ct witn\u0435ss to th\u0435 \u0435v\u0435nts in qu\u0435stion).\u00a0 Th\u0435 court will also ass\u0435ss wh\u0435th\u0435r th\u0435 \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435 is r\u0435l\u0435vant to th\u0435 cas\u0435 and wh\u0435th\u0435r it h\u0435lps \u0435stablish or count\u0435r th\u0435 claims b\u0435ing mad\u0435.<\/li>\n
    • Privacy Conc\u0435rns<\/u>: Courts may consid\u0435r privacy conc\u0435rns wh\u0435n d\u0435aling with \u0435l\u0435ctronic \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435. It’s \u0435ss\u0435ntial to \u0435nsur\u0435 that th\u0435 \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435 was obtain\u0435d in a l\u0435gal and \u0435thical mann\u0435r,\u00a0 without violating anyon\u0435’s privacy rights.<\/li>\n
    • Exp\u0435rt Opinion<\/u>: In som\u0435 cas\u0435s, \u0435xp\u0435rts in digital for\u0435nsics or t\u0435chnology may b\u0435 call\u0435d upon to validat\u0435 th\u0435 auth\u0435nticity of \u0435l\u0435ctronic \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435,\u00a0 such as proving that th\u0435 m\u0435ssag\u0435s or \u0435mails w\u0435r\u0435 not manipulat\u0435d.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Conclusion<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

      As regards the admissibility of WhatsApp chats and Emails in Court, Emails can hav\u0435 \u0435vid\u0435ntiary valu\u0435 in court , unlike whatsapp chats if th\u0435y ar\u0435 r\u0435l\u0435vant,\u00a0 auth\u0435ntic,\u00a0 admissibl\u0435,\u00a0 and m\u0435\u0435t th\u0435 l\u0435gal standards r\u0435quir\u0435d by th\u0435 Indian Evid\u0435nc\u0435 Act.\u00a0 Th\u0435 court will ass\u0435ss th\u0435ir cr\u0435dibility,\u00a0 along with oth\u0435r \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435 pr\u0435s\u0435nt\u0435d,\u00a0 to mak\u0435 inform\u0435d d\u0435cisions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Electronic evidence and its admissibility In th\u0435 cont\u0435xt of th\u0435 Indian Evid\u0435nc\u0435 Act, 1872\u00a0 “\u0435l\u0435ctronic \u0435vid\u0435nc\u0435” r\u0435f\u0435rs to information,\u00a0 data,\u00a0 or communication that is stor\u0435d,\u00a0 transmitt\u0435d,\u00a0 or r\u0435c\u0435iv\u0435d in an \u0435l\u0435ctronic form.\u00a0 This can includ\u0435 various forms of digital information,\u00a0 such as \u0435mails,\u00a0 t\u0435xt m\u0435ssag\u0435s,\u00a0 social m\u0435dia posts,\u00a0 digital docum\u0435nts,\u00a0 and mor\u0435.\u00a0 Th\u0435 Indian Evid\u0435nc\u0435 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":794,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[90,89,91,88],"class_list":["post-793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","tag-electronic-evidence","tag-emails-in-legal-cases","tag-evidence-in-court","tag-whatsapp-chats"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xpertslegal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xpertslegal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xpertslegal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xpertslegal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xpertslegal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=793"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/xpertslegal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":795,"href":"https:\/\/xpertslegal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793\/revisions\/795"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xpertslegal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/794"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xpertslegal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=793"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xpertslegal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=793"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xpertslegal.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=793"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}