BSA Section 137: Witness not excused from answering on ground that answer will criminate
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 · Chapter 9: Of Witnesses
Also available in: हिंदी
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.
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
- 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