Indian Evidence Act, 1872
148. Court to decide when question shall be asked and when
witness compelled to answer
If any such question
relates to a matter not relevant to the suit or proceeding, except in so far as
it affects the credit of the Witness by injuring his character, the Court shall
decide whether or not the witness shall be compelled to answer it, and may, if
it thinks fit, warn the witness that he is not obliged to answer it. In
exercising its discretion, the Court shall have regard to the following
considerations:-
(1) such questions are
proper if they are of such a nature that the truth of the imputation conveyed
by them would seriously affect the opinion of the Courts as to the credibility
of the witness or the matter to which testifies;
(2) Such questions are
improper if the imputation which they convey relates to matters so remote in
time, or of such a character, that the truth of the imputation would not
affect, or would affect in a slight degree, the opinion of the Court as to the
credibility of the witness on the matter to which he testifies;
(3) such questions are
improper if there is a great disproportion between the importance of the
imputation made against the witness's character and the importance of his
evidence;
(4) the Court may, if
it sees fit, draw, from the witness’s refusal to answer, the inference that the
answer if given would be unfavorable.