Number of witnesses.
What this section does
There is no minimum number of witnesses required to prove any fact in any case. A single witness's testimony, if credible, is sufficient proof.
AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).
The rule in one line
No minimum number of witnesses is required to prove any fact.
When it applies
- A murder conviction can rest on the testimony of a single eyewitness if the court finds it credible.
- A contract can be proved by one witness even if multiple persons were present at its execution.
Practitioner note
Encapsulates the principle 'evidence has to be weighed, not counted'.
Derived from IEA s.134.
Read the official text
For the binding statutory text of BSA Section 139, refer to the Gazette of India or the India Code official website.
Why this matters
BSA Section 139 forms part of Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam which replaced the Indian Evidence Act 1872 on 1 July 2024. Any new filing, FIR, charge sheet, or bail application made on or after that date should cite the new section number. References to the old act in legacy documents remain valid for matters that arose before the changeover.