Section 85A

Section 85A creates a rebuttable evidential presumption in favour of the integrity of secure electronic records in court proceedings. If an electronic record qualifies as a 'secure electronic record' — one that has been authenticated using a secure digital signature (as defined in Sections 14–16) — the court shall presume it has not been altered since the time of that authentication. The burden shifts: the party challenging the record's integrity must produce evidence of alteration; the party relying on the record does not need to affirmatively prove it is unaltered. This presumption is critical for e-commerce disputes, digital contract enforcement, and electronic evidence in criminal cases. Without it, every digital document would require expensive and time-consuming forensic testimony to establish authenticity. The 'secure electronic record' qualification links to Sections 14–16 which define the technical requirements for a digital signature to be considered 'secure' — meeting prescribed security standards. Ordinary electronic records without secure digital signatures do not benefit from this presumption, though they may still be admitted as evidence under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.