Questions tending to corroborate evidence of relevant fact, admissible.

What this section does

When a witness gives evidence of a relevant fact and it is intended to corroborate him, he may be questioned about other circumstances he observed at or near the time or place of the relevant fact, provided the Court is of the opinion that such circumstances, if proved, would corroborate his testimony. This allows surrounding circumstances to be used to strengthen a witness's account.

AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).

The rule in one line

A witness may be questioned about surrounding circumstances observed near the time or place of a relevant fact if those circumstances would corroborate his testimony.

When it applies

• An accomplice testifying about a robbery may be questioned about incidental events he observed on the way to and from the scene, which can then be independently proved to corroborate his account of the robbery.
• A witness to an accident may be asked about other things he noticed at the scene around the same time if those observations would support his account of the accident.

Derived from IEA s.156.