Section 63 BSA Certificate Template (Schedule Part A & B) for WhatsApp Chats & Electronic Evidence
Access the fully compliant statutory format under the Schedule of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023. This page provides the official Part A and Part B layouts required to submit digital records, computer printouts, and exported messaging archives — including WhatsApp chats, SMS logs, emails, and social media screenshots — in Indian Courts.
Upload your WhatsApp .txt or .zip export → Our pipeline computes your SHA-256 hash, fills all Schedule fields, and outputs a court-ready PDF. Your chat never leaves your device.
What is Section 63 of Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)?
The implementation of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 completely replaced the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 for all proceedings initiated after July 1, 2024. Consequently, the widely known Section 65B Certificate is now obsolete under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) framework.
Admission of electronic records — including WhatsApp chat backups, SMS text logs, call recordings, emails, and social media screenshots — is now strictly regulated under Section 63 BSA. To present these records in a legal trial, the individual producing the source file must submit a signed declaration verifying hardware parameters and structural integrity of the data.
Under the admissibility of secondary digital evidence BSA framework, a Section 63 electronic evidence declaration is no longer optional — it is a mandatory prerequisite. The Supreme Court in Arjun Panditrao Khotkar v. Kailash Kushanrao Gorantyal (2020) 7 SCC 1 established that electronic evidence without a proper certificate has no evidentiary value. The BSA 2023 codifies and strengthens this position.
The full Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam bare act text for Section 63 covers four conditions for admissibility. A Section 63 BSA certificate Word format download ready-to-use template must reflect all four:
- The computer (or device) was used regularly for storing or processing information during the relevant period
- Information of the kind in the record was regularly fed into or processed by the computer during that period
- Throughout that period, the computer was operating properly or, if not, any improper operation did not affect the record
- The information in the electronic record reproduces or is derived from information supplied to the computer in the ordinary course of activity — supported by a Section 63 BSA electronic evidence declaration with a hash report under sub-section 63(4)(c)
The Mandatory Structure of a Section 63(4)(c) Certificate
The Schedule [See Section 63(4)(c)] of the BSA 2023 prescribes a two-part certificate. Below is the complete field-by-field breakdown of the official statutory format.
Part A: To be Filled by the Party Submitting Electronic Records
This part must be filled out by the litigant, advocate, or person who holds lawful control of the communication device from which the chat log file or printout was extracted. This is the core component of every Section 63 BSA certificate Word format download.
Part B: To be Filled by the Cyber Forensic Expert (If Directed by Court)
Part B is executed when the electronic record requires independent authentication from an official Examiner of Electronic Evidence or a certified forensic laboratory under the Information Technology Act. Courts may direct Part B in high-value criminal trials or where the authenticity of electronic records is specifically challenged by the opposing party.
The editable Section 63 certificate format ready-to-use .docx lets you manually adjust formatting variables to match your specific case. The Section 63 BSA certificate template for advocates is pre-structured with all Part A & Part B Schedule fields.
Court-Ready PDF Template Preview
Technical Requirements: Cryptographic Hashing (SHA-256 vs MD5)
Unlike the old Section 65B template guidelines, Section 63(4) BSA explicitly mandates enclosing a valid Hash Report. A cryptographic hash acts as a unique digital fingerprint for your file. This is not optional metadata — it is a mandatory field in the Schedule.
✅ SHA-256 (Recommended)
SHA256 cryptographic hash value calculation produces a 256-bit, 64-character hexadecimal string. It is collision-resistant, meaning no two different files can produce the same hash. This is the gold standard for digital evidence integrity and is the preferred algorithm for court submissions under BSA 2023.
MD5 Algorithm (Accepted)
MD5 algorithm for digital evidence integrity produces a 128-bit, 32-character hash. While accepted under Section 63 BSA, MD5 has known theoretical collision vulnerabilities. It remains legally valid but SHA-256 provides stronger tamper-proof evidence for high-stakes litigation.
Why automated hash generation matters: If a single character, timestamp, or emoji inside an exported WhatsApp .txt file is modified, the SHA-256 hash value will completely change. This standard prevents malicious evidence manipulation. However, litigants cannot easily calculate complex SHA-256 codes manually without software terminal utilities.
When you upload your raw conversation file into the Chat2Evidence pipeline, the local secure engine performs end-to-end encryption key validation and computes alphanumeric hash strings instantly via local data processing browser security — typing them directly onto your finalized certificate. No file upload to any server is required.
Step-by-Step: How to Make WhatsApp Chats Court-Admissible
Before filling out the form parameters, review our complete visual guide on how to export WhatsApp chats for legal evidence safely. The sequence below outlines the full process from raw data to court submission.
Open WhatsApp → Open the conversation → Three dots menu → More → Export Chat. This generates a structured, immutable _chat.txt timestamp record — not a screenshot. Processing this file converts disorganized data strings into indexed, page-numbered legal exhibits. The Court ready WhatsApp conversation formatter requires this raw export file, not screenshots.
Note your phone's IMEI number (dial *#06#), hardware serial number (Settings → About Phone), and if applicable, network card MAC address extraction data. These device metadata tracking parameters are mandatory fields in Part A of the Schedule. Omitting them creates legal vulnerability — opposing counsel can challenge your device source identity.
Upload your .txt or .zip export to the Chat2Evidence automated Section 63 certificate generator. The browser-based engine performs SHA256 cryptographic hash value calculation entirely on your device — a cloud User ID and backup file verification step ensures no data transmission occurs. The 64-character hash string is auto-inserted into your certificate.
Enter your personal particulars, select the source device type checkbox, confirm the hardware serial number logging field, and verify that the hash algorithm checkbox (SHA-256 or MD5) matches the computed value. The affordable digital evidence certification India tool auto-populates all technical fields — you only need to verify accuracy.
Print the generated PDF on A4 paper. The deponent must physically sign the certificate — this is what gives the document its legal force. In some jurisdictions it must be executed on non-judicial stamp paper. Consult your advocate. Then submit the signed certificate together with the full printed chat timeline as your court ready WhatsApp conversation evidence package.
Section 63 BSA Certificate: Case-Specific Applications
To understand the judicial precedents governing electronic records in specific case types, read our analytical breakdown on whether WhatsApp messages are admissible in Indian Courts under modern evidence standards.
The Section 63 BSA certificate for divorce cases and electronic evidence certificate for matrimonial disputes is required when submitting message logs to establish grounds like cruelty, desertion, or adultery. Family court electronic record validation framework requires full Part A compliance.
Submitting WhatsApp chats as evidence in 498A defense requires a valid Section 63 certificate. Criminal trial WhatsApp message screenshot validation is insufficient — only properly exported and hashed chat archives meet admissibility standards.
Commercial litigation digital contract evidence submitted via WhatsApp — purchase orders, delivery confirmations, payment acknowledgements — must be accompanied by a certificate. Civil suit electronic evidence production application requires hash verification.
For Section 63 certificate for cyber crime complaints, both Part A and Part B are typically required. The court almost always directs an Examiner of Electronic Evidence to independently verify hash values — making Part B mandatory in these proceedings.
WhatsApp chats proving demand notice acknowledgement or agreement terms are admissible under the NI Act. The Section 63 BSA certificate for cheque bounce cases must specify the exact device and hash of the exported conversation record.
Domestic Violence case WhatsApp chat admissibility is a rapidly growing area. Chat logs establishing a pattern of abuse, threats, or harassment must be produced with a compliant certificate. Contempt of court digital communication records follow the same standard.
Why Traditional Screenshots Get Rejected by Courts
Relying on basic phone screenshots for legal representation is a high-risk approach. Screenshots omit crucial device metadata tracking parameters, fail to reveal deleted messages, and are easily altered using standard editing tools. Courts increasingly apply the Arjun Panditrao principle strictly — requiring the originating process to be documented in the certificate.
Screenshots contain no hardware serial number logging or device source identifiers. Courts cannot verify when, where, or on which device the image was created.
Without SHA-256 or MD5 hash values, there is no file tamper detection hash report. Any photo editor can modify text in screenshots — making the evidence structurally uncertifiable.
A Section 63(4)(c) certificate must describe the process by which the record was produced. Screenshots have no reproducible production process — they cannot be certified under the Schedule format.
The legally airtight approach is the WhatsApp Export Chat feature — generating a structured, immutable timestamp record. Processing that file through an automated pipeline converts raw data into indexed, page-numbered legal exhibits.
Get the court-ready template with full compliance guide, SHA-256 hash generation commands, the 12-field checklist, and step-by-step filing instructions — plus free PDF and Word download.
Get the Complete Template + Compliance Guide →Includes free PDF download, SHA-256 hash calculator commands, and step-by-step court filing instructions
Section 63 BSA FAQ & Legal Validity Insights
Common questions from litigants, advocates, and forensic professionals about Section 63 BSA certificate requirements, validity, and digital evidence standards.
Yes. An automated tool is legally valid because the template conforms explicitly to the text layout mandated by the Schedule under Section 63(4)(c) BSA. The key legal requirement is that the deponent manually signs the printed document to authenticate all statements. The tool automates the technical computation — specifically the SHA256 cryptographic hash value calculation and device metadata tracking parameters — which would be impractical to do manually. The signed printout carries the same legal force as a manually typed certificate.
Omitting hardware identifying factors like the mobile phone IMEI number registration field or hardware serial number logging makes your submission legally vulnerable. The opposing counsel can challenge the authenticity of the device source, arguing the evidence could originate from any device. This potentially leads to court rejection of the entire electronic record. The Schedule specifically requires these device metadata tracking parameters to establish an unbroken chain of custody from device to court.
The repeal of Section 65B Indian Evidence Act is a legal fact under the BSA 2023 framework. Section 65B is now obsolete for all new criminal and civil proceedings initiated under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The BSA applies to all cases filed after July 1, 2024. Cases filed before that date may still refer to Section 65B, but the certification requirements under Section 63 BSA are substantially similar and more stringent in requiring a cryptographic hash report.
Yes. A downloadable Section 63 BSA certificate Word format download in .docx format allows you to manually adjust formatting variables to match the exact context of your case — jurisdiction, court name, case number, or specific device details. The Section 63 certificate format ready-to-use docx is structured to meet Schedule requirements out of the box. You must still manually calculate and insert the SHA-256 or MD5 hash if using the blank Word template rather than the automated pipeline.
Yes. The Section 63 BSA certificate requirement applies to all proceedings regardless of case type. For Section 63 BSA certificate for divorce cases, submitting WhatsApp chats as evidence in 498A defense, electronic evidence certificate for matrimonial disputes, and Domestic Violence case WhatsApp chat admissibility — all require full Part A compliance with a SHA-256 hash report. The family court electronic record validation framework applies the same standard as criminal courts.
Both SHA256 cryptographic hash value calculation and MD5 algorithm for digital evidence integrity are accepted under Section 63 BSA. SHA-256 produces a 64-character hash using a 256-bit algorithm — it is collision-resistant and represents the current gold standard for file tamper detection hash report purposes. MD5 produces a 32-character hash and has known theoretical vulnerabilities. For high-value litigation including criminal trials, cybercrime complaints, and commercial disputes, SHA-256 is strongly recommended. For straightforward matrimonial or maintenance cases, MD5 remains legally valid.
Yes. Chat2Evidence uses local data processing browser security — all parsing, formatting, and SHA256 cryptographic hash value calculation happens entirely within your browser on your device. No chat file is transmitted to any external server. This private WhatsApp PDF converter no-upload architecture means your confidential legal communications — matrimonial disputes, criminal defense, commercial litigation — never leave your control. The end-to-end encryption key validation model ensures complete privacy throughout the process.
Part B — the Cyber Forensic Expert certification — is required when the court specifically directs independent authentication of the electronic record. This typically occurs in serious criminal trials, Section 63 certificate for cyber crime complaints, cases where the opposing party formally challenges the hash value, or high-value commercial litigation where the integrity of digital contracts is disputed. In most civil proceedings, matrimonial cases, and cheque bounce matters, only Part A is required unless the court orders otherwise.
Related Guides & Resources:
Once you have your text log export ready, generate your Section 63 BSA certificate template Word format or automated PDF to prepare your formal court filing.