Article 172

At the first hearing of the suit, the court shall, after ascertaining the identity of the parties if they appear in person, read the pleadings and ascertain from each party or his pleader whether he admits or denies such allegations of fact as are made in the statement of the other party and as are not expressly or by necessary implication admitted or denied by the party against whom they are made.

Any party appearing in person or present in court, or any person able to answer any material question relating to the suit by whom such party or his pleader is accompanied, may be examined orally by the court which may, if it thinks fit, put in the course of such examination questions suggested by either party.

Where the pleader of any party who appears by a pleader or any such person as is referred to in sub-Article (2) refuses or is unable to answer any material question relating to the suit which the court considers that the party whom he represent ought to answer and is likely to be able to answer if examined in person, the court may adjourn the hearing to a future day and order by summons that such party shall appear in person on that day.

The substance of the examination held under this article and any admission or denial made in the course thereof shall be reduced to writing by the court and shall form part of the record.