Legal Compliance
How Evidence Custodian meets Indian legal requirements for digital evidence
Our Mission: Evidence Custodian is designed to help legal professionals, law enforcement, and organizations create digital evidence certificates that comply with Indian evidentiary standards, particularly Section 63 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023.
Compliance Framework
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Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
Section 63 compliance for admissibility of electronic records. Our certificates include all required declarations and technical specifications.
✓ Section 63 Compliant
💻
Information Technology Act, 2000
Compliance with IT Act provisions for electronic records, digital signatures, and data protection requirements.
✓ IT Act Compliant
📜
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Alignment with the new criminal code provisions regarding digital evidence in criminal proceedings.
✓ BNS Compatible
🏛️
Indian Courts Standards
Certificate format designed based on requirements observed in various High Courts and the Supreme Court of India.
✓ Court Ready
Section 63 BSA Requirements
Section 63 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (which replaced Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872) establishes requirements for the admissibility of electronic records. Our certificates address each requirement:
📋 Certificate Contents (as per Section 63)
- Identification of Electronic Record: File name, size, format, and unique identifiers
- Device/System Description: Details of the computer system used to produce the output
- Manner of Production: Step-by-step process of how the certificate was generated
- Conditions of Lawful Control: Declaration regarding authorized access and custody
- Hash Values: SHA-256 cryptographic hash for integrity verification
- Timestamp: Precise date and time of certificate generation
- Declaration: Signed statement by a person in lawful control or management
Technical Compliance
Timestamp
ISO 8601 + Blockchain
Data Storage
India (Localized)
Cryptographic Standards
- Hash Function: SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm 256-bit) - NIST approved, collision resistant
- Blockchain Timestamping: Immutable proof of existence at a specific point in time
- Password Storage: bcrypt with salt (industry standard)
- Transport Security: TLS 1.3 encryption for all data transmission
Certificate Sample Structure
CERTIFICATE UNDER SECTION 63
BHARATIYA SAKSHYA ADHINIYAM, 2023
I, [Name], being the person in lawful control of the
computer system described below, do hereby certify that:
1. ELECTRONIC RECORD IDENTIFICATION
File Name: [filename.mp4]
File Size: [12,345,678 bytes]
SHA-256 Hash: [64-character hash]
2. COMPUTER SYSTEM
Platform: Evidence Custodian v10
Operating System: Linux
Hash Algorithm: SHA-256
3. BLOCKCHAIN VERIFICATION
Transaction ID: [blockchain_tx]
Timestamp: [ISO 8601 timestamp]
4. DECLARATION
The electronic record was produced from the computer
system during the period when it was regularly used...
Date: [Date]
Signature: _______________
Metadata Extraction
Our system extracts and preserves important metadata that may be relevant for legal proceedings:
📷 Image/Video Metadata (EXIF)
- Camera make and model
- Date and time of capture
- GPS coordinates (if available)
- Image dimensions and resolution
- Software used for editing (if any)
📍 Location Data
- GPS coordinates extraction from EXIF data
- Reverse geocoding to human-readable addresses
- Place of Origin determination for certificates
Chain of Custody
For evidence stored in the vault, we maintain a complete chain of custody record:
- Upload Record: Who uploaded, when, from which IP address
- Access Log: Every time the evidence is viewed or downloaded
- Verification Requests: Who requested verification and when
- Certificate Generation: Each certificate generated for the evidence
- Integrity Checks: Regular automated verification of stored evidence
Data Protection Compliance
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Data Localization
All data stored on servers located in India, complying with data localization requirements.
🛡️
Security Standards
Implementation of reasonable security practices as required under IT Act and Rules.
📝
Audit Trail
Complete audit logging of all system activities for accountability and compliance.
🗑️
Data Retention
Clear retention policies with secure deletion procedures when required.
GST Compliance
All invoices generated by Evidence Custodian comply with GST requirements:
- Valid GSTIN displayed on all invoices
- Proper HSN/SAC codes for services
- Tax breakup showing CGST and SGST or IGST as applicable
- Sequential invoice numbering
- Digital invoice delivery
Limitations and Disclaimers
Important Notice: While Evidence Custodian generates certificates designed to comply with Section 63 BSA requirements, the ultimate determination of admissibility rests with the presiding court. We provide technical certification services and do not guarantee acceptance in any specific legal proceeding. Users should consult qualified legal professionals regarding evidentiary requirements for their specific cases.
Certifications & Audits
We are committed to maintaining high standards of security and compliance:
- Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
- Continuous monitoring for security threats
- Employee training on data protection and security
- Incident response procedures in place