BSA Section 137: Witness not excused from answering on ground that answer will criminate
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 · Chapter 9: Of Witnesses
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¶137. A witness shall not be excused from answering any question as to any matter relevant to the matter in issue in any suit or in any civil or criminal proceeding, upon the ground that the answer to such question will criminate, or may tend directly or indirectly to criminate, such witness, or that it will expose, or tend directly or indirectly to expose, such witness to a penalty or forfeiture of any kind:
¶Provided that no such answer, which a witness shall be compelled to give, shall subject him to any arrest or prosecution, or be proved against him in any criminal proceeding, except a prosecution forgiving false evidence by such answer.
Study: explanations and related material
Replaces IEA 132. IEA → BSA converterSource: BPR&D BSA–IEA corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-07-03)
Official reference: Ministry of Home Affairs: Gazette text, 25 December 2023 — source link checked: 2 October 2026.Recorded edition / snapshot date: 2024-07-01.Mobile-app reference import; the recorded snapshot date is not a fresh legal-currency guarantee. The linked government text is an independent authoritative reference, not certification that this website reproduces the same edition. The source link was checked, not every provision or subsequent amendment. Check commencement notifications, savings and jurisdiction-specific variations separately.
This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 124. Who may testify
- 125. Witness unable to communicate verbally
- 126. Competency of husband and wife as witnesses in certain cases
- 127. Judges and Magistrates
- 128. Communications during marriage
- 129. Evidence as to affairs of State
- 130. Official communications
- 131. Information as to commission of offences
- 132. Professional communications
- 133. Privilege not waived by volunteering evidence
- 134. Confidential communication with legal advisers
- 135. Production of title-deeds of witness not a party
- 136. Production of documents or electronic records which another person, having possession, could refuse to produce
- 138. Accomplice
- 139. Number of witnesses