Section 14A
14A. Power of court to engage experts.—(1) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions contained in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), in any suit under this Act, where the court considers it necessary to get expert opinion to assist it on any specific issue involved in the suit, it may engage one or more experts and direct to report to it on such issue and may secure attendance of the expert for providing evidence, including production of documents on the issue.
(2) The court may require or direct any person to give relevant information to the expert or to produce, or to provide access to, any relevant documents, goods or other property for his inspection.
(3) The opinion or report given by the expert shall form part of the record of the suit; and the court, or with the permission of the court any of the parties to the suit, may examine the expert personally in open court on any of the matters referred to him or mentioned in his opinion or report, or as to his opinion or report, or as to the manner in which he has made the inspection.
(4) The expert shall be entitled to such fee, cost or expense as the court may fix, which shall be payable by the parties in such proportion, and at such time, as the court may direct.
Section 14A is incorporated by the Specific Relief (Amendment) Act 2018. It provides for expert opinion. Where the court considers it necessary to get expert opinion. Where the court considers it necessary to get expert opinion to assist it on any specific issue involved in the suit, it may engage one or more experts.
Direction to the expert. The Court may also direct such expert to report to it on such issue and may secure attendance of the expert for providing evidence, including production of documents on the issue.
Direction to any person [Section 14A(2)]: wherever, the court considers necessary, it may require or direct any person to give relevant information to the expert or to produce, or to provide access to, any relevant documents, goods or other property for his inspection.
Expert reports forms court record [Section 14A(3)]: The opinion or report given by the expert shall form part of the record of the suit.
Examination or cross examination of the expert [Section 14A(3)]: The court, may examine the expert personally in open court on any of the matters referred to him or mentioned in his opinion or report, or as to his opinion or report, or as to the manner in which he has made the inspection. Further, with the permission of the court any of the parties to the suit may also examine the expert.
Fee of expert [Section 14A(4)]: The expert shall be entitled to such fee, cost or expense as the court may fix, which shall be payable by the parties in such proportion, and at such time, as the court may direct.
