IEA Section 149: Question not to be asked without reasonable grounds
Indian Evidence Act, 1872 · Chapter 10: The Examination Of Witnesses
Repealed on 1 July 2024 and replaced by the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA).
No such question as is referred to in section 148 ought to be asked, unless the person asking it has reasonable grounds for thinking that the imputation which it conveys is well-founded.
Illustrations
(a) A barrister is instructed by an attorney or vakil that an important witness is a dakait. This is a reasonable ground for asking the witness whether he is a dakait.
(b) A pleader is informed by a person in court that an important witness is a dakait. The informant, on being questioned by the pleader, gives satisfactory reasons for this statement. This is a reasonable ground for asking the witness whether he is a dakait.
(c) A witness, of whom nothing whatever is known, is asked at random whether he is a dakait. There are here no reasonable grounds for the question.
(d) A witness, of whom nothing whatever is known, being questioned as to his mode of life and means of living, gives unsatisfactory answers. This may be a reasonable ground for asking him if he is a dakait.
Bare act text for reference, current to 30 June 2024. It is not legal advice; check the official gazette for authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 135. Order of production and examination of witnesses
- 136. Judge to decide as to admissibility of evidence
- 137. Examination-in-chief
- 138. Order of examinations
- 139. Cross-examination of person called to produce a document
- 140. Witnesses to character
- 141. Leading questions
- 142. When they must not be asked
- 143. When they may be asked
- 144. Evidence as to matters in writing
- 145. Cross-examination as to previous statements in writing
- 146. Questions lawful in cross-examination
- 147. When witness to be compelled to answer
- 148. Court to decide when question shall be asked and when witness compelled to answer
- 150. Procedure of Court in case of question being asked without reasonable grounds
- 151. Indecent and scandalous questions
- 152. Questions intended to insult or annoy
- 153. Exclusion of evidence to contradict answers to questions testing veracity
- 154. Question by party to his own witness
- 155. Impeaching credit of witness
- 156. Question tending to corroborate evidence of relevant fact, admissible
- 157. Former statements of witness may be proved to corroborate later testimony as to same fact
- 158. What matters may be proved in connection with proved statement relevant under section 32 or 33
- 159. Refreshing memory
- 160. Testimony to facts stated in document mentioned in section 159
- 161. Right of adverse party as to writing used to refresh memory
- 162. Production of documents
- 163. Giving, as evidence, of document called for and produced on notice
- 164. Using, as evidence, of document production of which was refused on notice
- 165. Judge's power to put questions or order production
- 166. Power of jury or assessors to put questions