When can Electronic Evidence be Admitted in a Court of Law?

The law relating to evidence has undergone a massive change in the recent years with different types of evidence now being deemed admissible in a court of law. This change has also reached India with there being several amendments to the existing legislations. Under India’s obligation to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) the Information Technology Act, 2000 (Herein referred to as the IT Act) was enacted. This Act legitimized the electronic commerce business and encouraged it in the global market and through this Act the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (Herein referred to as the Evidence Act) was amended to include provisions regarding electronic evidence. The Evidence Act requires primary evidence to be proved under Section 64 while secondary evidence to be proved under Section 65. Primary evidence is the kind of proof which is regarded as with the greatest certainty of fact in question. All evidence that is excluded from this category is regarded as secondary evidence. The burden of proof to show the admissibility of secondary evidence lies on the party bringing forth the evidence.