BSA Section 13: Facts bearing on question whether act was accidental or intentional
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 · Chapter 2: Relevancy of Facts
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13. When there is a question whether an act was accidental or intentional, or done with a particular knowledge or intention, the fact that such act formed part of a series of similar occurrences, in each of which the person doing the act was concerned, is relevant.
Illustrations.
(a) A is accused of burning down his house in order to obtain money for which it is insured. The facts that A lived in several houses successively each of which he insured, in each of which a fire occurred, and after each of which fires A received payment from a different insurance company, are relevant, as tending to show that the fires were not accidental.
(b) A is employed to receive money from the debtors of B. It is A's duty to make entries in a book showing the amounts received by him. He makes an entry showing that on a particular occasion he received less than he really did receive. The question is, whether this false entry was accidental or intentional. The facts that other entries made by A in the same book are false, and that the false entry is in each case in favour of A, are relevant.
(c) A is accused of fraudulently delivering to B a counterfeit currency. The question is, whether the delivery of the currency was accidental. The facts that, soon before or soon after the delivery to B, A delivered counterfeit currency to C, D and E are relevant, as showing that the delivery to B was not accidental.
Bare act text for reference, current to 1 July 2024. It is not legal advice; check the official gazette for authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 3. Evidence may be given of facts in issue and relevant facts
- 4. Relevancy of facts forming part of same transaction
- 5. Facts which are occasion, cause or effect of facts in issue or relevant facts
- 6. Motive, preparation and previous or subsequent conduct
- 7. Facts necessary to explain or introduce fact in issue or relevant facts
- 8. Things said or done by conspirator in reference to common design
- 9. When facts not otherwise relevant become relevant
- 10. Facts tending to enable Court to determine amount are relevant in suits for damages
- 11. Facts relevant when right or custom is in question
- 12. Facts showing existence of state of mind, or of body or bodily feeling
- 14. Existence of course of business when relevant
- 15. Admission defined
- 16. Admission by party to proceeding or his agent
- 17. Admissions by persons whose position must be proved as against party to suit
- 18. Admissions by persons expressly referred to by party to suit
- 19. Proof of admissions against persons making them, and by or on their behalf
- 20. When oral admissions as to contents of documents are relevant
- 21. Admissions in civil cases when relevant
- 22. Confession caused by inducement, threat, coercion or promise, when irrelevant in criminal proceeding
- 23. Confession to police officer
- 24. Consideration of proved confession affecting person making it and others jointly under trial for same offence
- 25. Admissions not conclusive proof, but may estop
- 26. Cases in which statement of relevant fact by person who is dead or cannot be found, etc., is relevant
- 27. Relevancy of certain evidence for proving, in subsequent proceeding, truth of facts therein stated
- 28. Entries in books of account when relevant
- 29. Relevancy of entry in public record or an electronic record made in performance of duty
- 30. Relevancy of statements in maps, charts and plans
- 31. Relevancy of statement as to fact of public nature contained in certain Acts or notifications
- 32. Relevancy of statements as to any law contained in law books including electronic or digital form
- 33. What evidence to be given when statement forms part of conversation, document, electronic record, book or series of letters or papers
- 34. Previous judgments relevant to bar a second suit or trial
- 35. Relevancy of certain judgments in probate, etc., jurisdiction
- 36. Relevancy and effect of judgments, orders or decrees, other than those mentioned in section 35
- 37. Judgments, etc., other than those mentioned in sections 34, 35 and 36 when relevant
- 38. Fraud or collusion in obtaining judgment, or incompetency of Court, may be proved
- 39. Opinions of experts
- 40. Facts bearing upon opinions of experts
- 41. Opinion as to handwriting and signature, when relevant
- 42. Opinion as to existence of general custom or right, when relevant
- 43. Opinion as to usages, tenets, etc., when relevant
- 44. Opinion on relationship, when relevant
- 45. Grounds of opinion, when relevant
- 46. In civil cases character to prove conduct imputed, irrelevant
- 47. In criminal cases previous good character relevant
- 48. Evidence of character or previous sexual experience not relevant in certain cases
- 49. Previous bad character not relevant, except in reply
- 50. Character as affecting damages