Admission defined
Section 15 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 deals with admission defined. An admission is a statement, oral or documentary or contained in electronic form, which suggests any inference as to any fact in issue or relevant fact, and which is made by any of the persons, and under the circumstances, hereinafter mentioned. The Act came into force on 01 Jul 2024.
An admission is a statement, oral or documentary or contained in electronic form, which suggests any inference as to any fact in issue or relevant fact, and which is made by any of the persons, and under the circumstances, hereinafter mentioned.
Section 15, The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (Act 47 of 2023).
Replaces a provision of the Indian Evidence Act
IEA 17 Admission defined Text carried over almost unchanged 100%
Measured by comparing the text of the two provisions, not taken from an official correspondence table — there is no machine-readable one. See both texts side by side before relying on it.
Both regimes are live. The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force. We never redirect one to the other.
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Ram Pat vs State of Harayana
Decided under Indian Evidence Act 17, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
A purchaser of an undivided share in joint family property does not acquire any right to possession of the land; his only right is to sue for partition. Therefore, the accused persons, being purchasers of undivided shares, could not claim to be in 'settled possession' of the disputed agricultural land. The four essential attributes of settled possession as established in Puran Singh (actual physical possession over sufficiently long period, possession to knowledge of owner with animus possidendi, complete and final dispossession acquiesced in by owner, and for culturable land, growing of crop) must be read conjunctively. Since the accused did not satisfy these attributes and were wholly armed aggressors while the deceased party was not armed (except with a non-dangerous Kamari), they had no right of private defence and were therefore guilty of murder.
On this section: Discussed regarding admissions made by witnesses and their evidentiary value.
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Mrityunjoy Sett(d) by Lrs vs Jadunath Basak (d) by Lrs
Decided under Indian Evidence Act 17, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
An admission made by a party in a court of law, originating from the person against whom it is sought to be produced, constitutes the best possible and most reliable form of evidence and shall hold good unless withdrawn or clarified by the admitting party. Such an admission shall carry greater evidentiary weight than uncorroborated documentary evidence like rent receipts, and shall be admissible and usable in all subsequent legal proceedings. Further, where a statutory notice prescribes a one month period expiring with a month of the tenancy, full and complete compliance is achieved when one month's clear time is provided, regardless of whether the underlying tenancy record contains documentary evidence suggesting a different calendar system, unless such evidence is substantiated by credible witness testimony from the document's creator. A High Court acting under Section 100 of the CPC cannot set aside the judgment and decree of a lower appellate court when the High Court itself acknowledges that no substantial question of law is involved in the appeal, as such interference would be contrary to settled principles of appellate jurisdiction.
On this section: Defines 'admission' of a party. The court held that the respondent's written admission in the earlier suit that rent was 'per English Calendar month' was a valid admission under this provision.
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Jose Valiyaveedan v. Giri K. George
Decided under Indian Evidence Act 17, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Final Order order-1.pdf 2012-03-02 DATE VERIFIED. OP(C) 953/2010. Kerala HC, K.T. Sankaran J. Isolate: IEA s.17 — an admission is a statement (oral, documentary or electronic) suggesting an inference as to a fact in issue; a signature on a deposition is not itself an admission under s.17 and cannot be used as substantive evidence of a disputed signature. Distinct from s.21 (proof of admissions) and s.145 (contradicting a witness). Recites s.80 presumption as the proper mode to prove a judicial deposition. Do not pad 145 (already filled) or 21/80. Charanjit/Meenakshi/Abdul Latheef remain non-isolates (O12 R6 / rent-control). Carry BSA 15 (near-identical 1.0). Leading HC.
On this section: BSA 15 is the near-identical successor of IEA 17 (admission defined); Jose Valiyaveedan’s holding that a signature is not an admission carries forward. Do not pad IEA 145.
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… Further, a Court, while pronouncing judgment on admission has to keep in its perspective the requirements in Order VIII Rule 5, Order XII Rule 6 and Order XV Rules 1 & 2 of the CPC read with Sections 17 (admission defined, now Section 15 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023), 58 (facts admitted need not be proved, now Section 53 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023) and 68 (proof of execution of document required by law to be attested, now Section 67 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023) of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. 91. …
Questions about Section 15
What have the courts held on Section 15 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam?
Ram Pat vs State of Harayana (12 May 2009) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below, though it was decided under IEA 17, which this section replaced -- the court never mentioned this Act: Discussed regarding admissions made by witnesses and their evidentiary value. Another 2 judgments on this section are set out below, 2 of them from the Supreme Court. They run from 2009 to 2012.
How do I find court cases under Section 15 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: BSA 15, section 15 BSA, section 15 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 3 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with Ram Pat vs State of Harayana (12 May 2009).
What should I read with Section 15 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, and has it changed?
It carries forward IEA 17 (Admission defined), so the judgments decided under that provision are the case law on this one.
When did Section 15 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam come into force?
Section 15 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, cited as BSA 15, came into force on 01 Jul 2024, having been enacted on 25 Dec 2023. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 26. Cases in which statement of relevant fact by person who is dead or cannot be found, etc., is relevant1128 words
- 12. Facts showing existence of state of mind, or of body or bodily feeling1076 words
- 95. Exclusion of evidence of oral agreement815 words
- 2. Definitions794 words
- 6. Motive, preparation and previous or subsequent conduct773 words
- 63. Admissibility of electronic records764 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.