s 80A Prints from films in possession of the Government and statutory body
80A.—(1) A print, whether enlarged or not, purporting to be made from a film of any document in the possession of the Government or any specified statutory body may be produced in proof of the contents of the document or such part of the document to which the print purports to be a copy upon proof that —(a) while the document was in the custody or control of the Government or specified statutory body the film was taken in order to keep a permanent record thereof; and (b) the document photographed —(i) was subsequently destroyed, whether deliberately or otherwise; (ii) was so damaged as to be wholly or partly indecipherable; (iii) was lost; or (iv) had passed out of the custody or control of the Government or specified statutory body.[20/2018] (2) Proof —(a) that a print is made from a film of a document in the possession of the Government or a specified statutory body; and (b) of compliance with the conditions in subsection (1), may be given in respect of any document or groups of documents by a public officer or by an employee of the specified statutory body having custody or control of the film, orally or by a certificate purporting to be signed by such public officer or employee. (3) A certificate under subsection (2) is admissible in evidence in any proceedings before any court on its production without further proof. (4) On the production of a certificate under subsection (3), the court before which it is produced is to presume, until the contrary is proved —(a) that the facts stated in the certificate relating to the print and the compliance with the conditions in subsection (1) are true; and (b) that the certificate purporting to be signed by a public officer or an employee of a specified statutory body has been signed by him or her. (5) In this section —“film” includes a photographic plate, microfilm and photostatic negative; “specified statutory body” means a statutory body specified in the Second Schedule.[20/2018]