Regulation 41 - Taking of evidence - CCI (General) Regulations, 2024

41. Taking of evidence. (1) Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Commission or the Director General, as the case may be, may determine the manner in which evidence may be adduced in the proceedings before them. (2) Without prejudice to sub-regulation (1), the Commission or the Director General, for the purpose of inquiry or investigation, as the case may be, may (a) admit evidence taken in the form of verifiable transcripts of tape recordings, unedited versions of video recording, electronic mail, telephone records including authenticated mobile telephone records, written signed unsworn statements of individuals or signed responses to written questionnaires or interviews or comments or opinions or analyses of experts based upon market surveys or economic studies or other authoritative texts or otherwise, as material evidence; (b) admit on record every document purporting to be a certificate, certified copy or other document, which is by law declared to be admissible as evidence of any particular fact provided it is duly certified by a gazetted officer of the Central Government or by a State Government or a statutory authority, as the case may be or a Magistrate or a Notary appointed under the Notaries Act, 1952 (53 of 1952) or the Secretary of the Commission; (c) admit the entries in the books of account, including those maintained in an electronic form, regularly kept in the course of business, including entries in any public or other official book, register or record or an electronic record, made by a public servant in the discharge of his official duty, or by any other person in performance of a duty specially enjoined by the law of the country in which such book, register or record or an electronic record is kept, as documentary evidence; (d) admit the opinion of any person acquainted with the handwriting of the person by whom a document is supposed to have been written or signed, as relevant fact to prove the handwriting of the person by whom the document was written or signed; (e) admit the opinion of the handwriting experts or the experts in identifying finger impressions or the persons specially skilled in interpretation of foreign law or of science or art; (f) take notice of the facts of which notice can be taken by a court of law under section 52 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (47 of 2023) ; (g) accept the facts, which parties to the proceedings admit or agree in writing as proved; (h) presume that any document purporting to be a certified copy of any record of any authority, court or government of any country not forming part of India as genuine and accurate, if the document purports to be certified in any manner which is certified by any representative of the National Government of such country to be the manner commonly in use in that country for the certification of copies of such records, including certification by the Embassy or the High Commission of that country in India; (i) admit such documents including electronic records in evidence as may be considered relevant and material for the proceedings. (3) Subject to the provisions of sub-regulation (2), the following sections of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (47 of 2023) , in so far as they are applicable to the matters relating to, (a) section 20 - when oral admissions as to contents of documents are relevant; (b) section 41(2) - opinion as to the electronic signature when relevant; (c) section 63 - admissibility of electronic records; (d) section 66 - proof as to electronic signature; (e) section 73 - proof as to verification of digital signature; (f) section 81 - presumption as to Gazettes in electronic or digital record; (g) section 85 - presumption as to electronic agreements; (h) section 86 - presumption as to electronic records and electronic signatures; (i) section 87 - presumption as to electronic signature certificates; (j) section 90 - presumption as to electronic messages; (k) section 91 - presumption as to due execution etc., of documents not produced; (l) section 93 - presumption as to electronic records five years old; may be applicable for the purpose of inquiry or investigation, by the Commission or the Director General, as the case may be. (4) The Commission or the Director General, as the case may be, may call for the parties to lead evidence by way of affidavit or lead oral evidence in the matter. (5) If the Commission or the Director General, as the case may be, directs evidence by a party to be led by way of oral submission, the Commission or the Director General, as the case may be, if considered necessary or expedient, may grant an opportunity to the other party or parties, as the case may be, to cross examine the person giving the evidence: Provided that if evidence led by a party by way of oral submission is sought to be relied upon by the Director General in its investigation report against any other person or party, the Director General shall offer to the concerned person or party against whom such evidence is sought to be relied upon, an opportunity to cross examine the person giving the evidence. (6) The Commission or the Director General, as the case may be, may, if considered necessary or expedient, direct that the evidence of any of the parties to be recorded by an officer or person designated for the said purpose. (7) The Commission may direct the parties to file written note of arguments or submissions in the matter.