INDIAN EVIDENCE ACT, 1872
BHARATIYA SAKSHYA ADHINIYAM, 2023
165. Judge’s power to put questions or order production.
168. Judge's power to put questions or order production.
changed or removed in old law
changed or added in new law
Similar wording stays plain; only differences are highlighted.
INDIAN EVIDENCE ACT, 1872
165. Judge’s power to put questions or order production. –– The Judge may, in order to discover
or to obtain proper proof of relevant facts, ask any question he pleases, in any form, at any time, of any
witness, or of the parties about any fact relevant or irrelevant; and may order the production of any
document or thing; and neither the parties nor their agents shall be entitled to make any objection to any
such question or order, nor, without the leave of the Court, to cross-examine any witness upon any answer
given in reply to any such question:
Provided that the judgment must be based upon facts declared by this Act to be relevant, and duly
proved:
Provided also that this section shall not authorize any Judge to compel any witness to answer any
question, or to produce any document which such witness would be entitled to refuse to answer or
produce under sections 121 to 131, both inclusive, if the question were asked or the document were called
for by the adverse party; nor shall the Judge ask any question which it would be improper for any other
person to ask under section 148 or 149; nor shall he dispense with primary evidence of any document,
except in the cases hereinbefore excepted.
Repealed / replaced by BSA India Code — IEA 1872
BHARATIYA SAKSHYA ADHINIYAM, 2023
168. Judge’s power to put questions or order production.—The Judge may, in order to
discover or obtain proof of relevant facts, ask any question he considers necessary, in any form, at any
time, of any witness, or of the parties about any fact; and may order the production of any document or
thing; and neither the parties nor their representatives shall be entitled to make any objection to any such
question or order, nor, without the leave of the Court, to cross-examine any witness upon any answer
given in reply to any such question:
Provided that the judgment must be based upon facts declared by this Adhiniyam to be relevant, and
duly proved:
Provided further that this section shall not authorise any Judge to compel any witness to answer any
question, or to produce any document which such witness would be entitled to refuse to answer or
produce under sections 127 to 136, both inclusive, if the question were asked or the document were called
for by the adverse party; nor shall the Judge ask any question which it would be improper for any other
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person to ask under section 151 or 152; nor shall he dispense with primary evidence of any document,
except in the cases hereinbefore excepted.
CHAPTER XI
OF IMPROPER ADMISSION AND REJECTION OF EVIDENCE
Current law India Code — BSA 2023