Indian Evidence Act, 1872
149. Question not to be asked without reasonable grounds
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.
Illustration
(a) A barrister is instructed
by an attorney or vakil that an important witness is a dakait. This is
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
information being questioned by the pleader, gives satisfactory reason for his
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 questions.
(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.