(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Evidence Act, 1872, copies of common records of the divided districts of Bengal and Assam in the custody of a public officer, the originals whereof are either in West Bengal or Assam, shall be deemed to be public document within the meaning of clause (1) of section 74 of the Evidence Act, 1872 and other provisions of the said Act shall apply accordingly.

Explanation.- 'Common records' mean and include documents of public nature in the custody of a public officer immediately before the 15th day of August, 1947, relating to a district or part of a district, which has fallen partly in ¹[the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh)] and partly in India as a result of the award of the Boundary Commission appointed under section 3 of the Indian Independence Act, 1947.