Without prejudice under indian law: Interesting read
Waiver of ‘without prejudice’ privilege in India ‘Without prejudice’ privilege finds statutory recognition within Section 23 of the Indian Evidence Act. This privilege governs admissibility of evidence in court and is founded on the public policy of encouraging litigants to settle their differences rather than litigate them towards a conclusion’. While legal professional privilege is a substantive right, ‘without prejudice’ privilege is generally a rule of admissibility, either based on a contractual, or implied contractual right, or on public policy.6 An important ruling in this regard discussing the contours of ‘without prejudice’ privilege is the Supreme Court’s ruling in M/s Peacock Plywood Pvt. Ltd. v. The Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd.7 Laying down general principles on such documents, the Court observed that a genuine intent to settle, which is a precondition to the applicability of the principle, can be deduced through surrounding circumstances and clear context indicating inte