Indian Evidence Act, 1872 · Section 155

IEA 155 in BSA: Section 158

Section 155 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 corresponds to Section 158 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. IEA 155 deals with impeaching credit of witness. The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam came into force on 1 July 2024, replacing the IEA. Both texts are set out below, side by side, with the changed words marked.

Indian Evidence Act

IEA 155 is now BSA 158.

Impeaching credit of witness

Carried over
89% of the old wording kept
Old · IEA 1872 · Ch. X
s. 155
Impeaching credit of witness
The credit of a witness may be impeached in the following ways by the adverse party, or, with the consent of the Court, by the party who calls him—
(1) by the evidence of persons who testify that they, from their knowledge of the witness, believe him to be unworthy of credit;
(2) by proof that the witness has been bribed, or has 18'[accepted] the offer of a bribe, or has received any other corrupt inducement to give his
(3) by proof of former statements inconsistent with any part of his evidence evidence; which is liable to be contradicted.
(4) 182[***]
Explanation.—A witness declaring another witness to be unworthy of credit may not, upon his examination-in-chief, give reasons for his belief, but he may be asked his reasons in cross-examination, and the answers which he gives cannot be contradicted, though, if they are false, he may afterwards be charged with giving false evidence. OF THE EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES
Illustrations
(a) A sues B for the price of goods sold and delivered to B. C says that he delivered the goods to B.Evidence is offered to show that, on a previous occasion, he said that he had not delivered the goods to B. The evidence is admissible.
(b) A is indicted for the murder of B. Csays that B, when dying, declared that A had given B the wound of which he died. Evidence is offered to show that, on a previous occasion, C said that the wound was not given by A or in his presence. The evidence is admissible.
Text read from the official print by OCR. Check it against the print before quoting.
New · BSA 2023 · Ch. X
s. 158
Impeaching credit of witness.
The credit of a witness may be impeached in the following ways by the adverse party, or, with the consent of the Court, by the party who calls him--
(a) by the evidence of persons who testify that they, from their knowledge of the witness, believe him to be unworthy of credit;
(b) by proof that the witness has been bribed, or has accepted the offer of a bribe, or has received any other corrupt inducement to give his evidence;
(c) by proof of former statements inconsistent with any part of his evidence which is liable to be contradicted.
Explanation.--A witness declaring another witness to be unworthy of credit may not, upon his examination-in-chief, give reasons for his belief, but he may be asked his reasons in cross-examination, and the answers which he gives cannot be contradicted, though, if they are false, he may afterwards be charged with giving false evidence.
Illustrations.
(a) A sues B for the price of goods sold and delivered to B. C says that he delivered the goods to B. Evidence is offered to show that, on a previous occasion, he said that he had not delivered goods to B. The evidence is admissible.
(b) A is accused of the murder of B. C says that B, when dying, declared that A had given B the wound of which he died. Evidence is offered to show that, on a previous occasion, C said that B, when dying, did not declare that A had given B the wound of which he died. The evidence is admissible
Text from India Code

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