https://www.taxtmi.com/caselaws?id=299886 Order XVI Rule 1(3) CPC requires timely filing of witness lists to prevent surprise to the opposite party, but procedural compliance should not defeat substantive justice. A belated witness list may justify safeguards such as costs or an opportunity to respond to the delay, yet it should not ordinarily result in a complete denial of the right to lead evidence where any prejudice can be cured. The Orissa HC noted that rejecting the defendant's witness list at a late stage and refusing him the chance to examine witnesses was unjustified; the proper course was to permit the evidence subject to appropriate conditions. en-us Wed, 06 Aug 1986 00:00:00 +0530 Mon, 03 Jan 2022 10:15:20 +0530 TaxTMI RSS Generator https://www.taxtmi.com/caselaws?id=299886 Order XVI Rule 1(3) CPC requires timely filing of witness lists to prevent surprise to the opposite party, but procedural compliance should not defeat substantive justice. A belated witness list may justify safeguards such as costs or an opportunity to respond to the delay, yet it should not ordinarily result in a complete denial of the right to lead evidence where any prejudice can be cured. The Orissa HC noted that rejecting the defendant's witness list at a late stage and refusing him the chance to examine witnesses was unjustified; the proper course was to permit the evidence subject to appropriate conditions. Case-Laws Indian Laws Wed, 06 Aug 1986 00:00:00 +0530 https://www.taxtmi.com/caselaws?id=299886