152. No such question as is referred to in section 151 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) An advocate is instructed by another advocate that an important witness
is a dacoit. This is a reasonable ground for asking the witness whether he
is a dacoit.
(b) An advocate is informed by a person in Court that an important witness is a dacoit. The informant, on being questioned by the advocate, gives satisfactory reasons for his statement. This is a reasonable ground for asking the witness whether he is a dacoit.
(c) A witness, of whom nothing whatever is known, is asked at random whether he is a dacoit. 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 dacoit.
Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
Section 151 Court to decide when question shall be asked and when witness compelled to answer
Section 152 Question not to be asked without reasonable grounds
Section 153 Procedure of Court in case of question being asked without reasonable grounds
Section 154 Indecent and scandalous questions
Section 155 Questions intended to insult or annoy
Section 156 Exclusion of evidence to contradict answers to questions testing veracity
Section 157 Question by party to his own witness
Section 158 Impeaching credit of witness
Section 159 Questions tending to corroborate evidence of relevant fact, admissible