Section 263

A document, including any exhibits and annexures identified in the document, which is presented as the report of a qualified person concerning a matter or thing duly submitted to the qualified person for examination, analysis or report, may be used as evidence in any criminal proceeding under this Code, and the qualified person need not be called as a witness unless the court or any of the parties requires that person to be examined orally or cross-examined on the report.

Qualified persons are by this Code bound to state the truth in their reports.

A report of a qualified person is admissible as prima facie evidence of the facts stated in it.

In this section, “qualified person” means a person specified by the Minister by notification in the Gazette for the purposes of this section.