Indian Penal Code, 1860
191. Giving
false evidence
Whoever, being legally
bound by an oath or by an express provision of law to state the truth, or being
bound by law to make a declaration upon any subject, makes any statement which
is false, and which he either knows or believes to be false or does not believe
to be true, is said to give false evidence.
Explanation 1- A statement is within the meaning of this section, whether
it is made verbally or otherwise.
Explanation 2- A false statement as to the belief of the person attesting
is within the meaning of this section, and a person may be guilty of giving false
evidence by stating that he believes a thing which he does not believe, as well
as by stating that he knows a thing which he does not know.
Illustrations
(a) A, in support of a
just claim which B has against Z for one thousand rupees, falsely swears on a
trial that he heard Z admit the justice of B's claim. A has given false
evidence.
(b) A, being bound by
an oath to state the truth, states that he believes a certain signature to be
the handwriting of Z, when he does not believe it to be the handwriting of Z.
Here A states that which he knows to be false, and therefore gives false
evidence.
(c) A, knowing the
general character of Z's handwriting, states that he believes a certain
signature to be the handwriting of Z; A in good faith believing it to be so.
Here A's statement is merely as to his belief, and is true as to his belief,
and therefore, although the signature may not be the handwriting of Z, A has
not given false evidence.
(d) A, being bound by
an oath to state the truth, states that he knows that Z was at a particular
place on a particular day, not knowing anything upon the subject. A gives false
evidence whether Z was at that place on the day named or not.
(e) A, an interpreter
or translator, gives or certifies as a true interpretation or translation of a
statement or document which he is bound by oath to interpret or translate
truly, that which is not and which he does not believe to be a true
interpretation or translation. A has given false evidence.