Examination of witnesses.
What this section does
This section defines the three stages of witness examination: examination-in-chief by the calling party, cross-examination by the adverse party, and re-examination by the calling party after cross-examination.
AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).
The rule in one line
Witness examination proceeds in three sequential stages — examination-in-chief, cross-examination, and re-examination.
When it applies
- A prosecution witness first answers the public prosecutor's questions (examination-in-chief), then the defence counsel's questions (cross-examination), and finally any clarificatory questions from the prosecutor (re-examination).
- A civil plaintiff's witness is examined-in-chief by plaintiff's counsel, cross-examined by defendant's counsel, and re-examined if the plaintiff's counsel seeks clarification.
Derived from IEA s.137.
Read the official text
For the binding statutory text of BSA Section 142, refer to the Gazette of India or the India Code official website.
Why this matters
BSA Section 142 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.