Documents And Witnesses

Every party to a suit is entitled to know the nature of his opponent's case. He is also entitled to obtain admission from his opponent to facilitate the proof of his own case. But he is not entitled to know the evidence of his opponent's case or the names of his witnesses. As regards documentary evidence, a party to a suit is entitled to know before hand what documents his opponent has in his possession and to inspect them.

A plaintiff may administer interrogatories to the defendant and the defendant may administer interrogatories to the other. Interrogatories can be administered only by leave of the court. As a general rule such leave is granted only after the written statement is filed or the time to file it has expired. The party to whom interrogatories are delivered is bound to answer them by affidavit. The interrogatories must relate directly to the matters in issue in the suit.

After discovery and inspection are made, the next step to be taken is to call upon the adversary, by notice in writing, to admit the genuineness of the documents which the other party wants to llse at the hearing and to admit facts constituting facts of his casco After this is over, summons to the witnesses are issued. Summons to a witness is to be served as nearly as may be in the same manner as summons to a defendant. Courts have certain powers to compel a witness to attend.