Who may testify
Full Text
All persons shall be competent to testify unless the Court considers that they are prevented from understanding the questions put to them, or from giving rational answers to those questions, by tender years, extreme old age, disease, whether of body or mind, or any other cause of the same kind.
Explanation.—A person of unsound mind is not incompetent to testify, unless he is prevented by his unsoundness of mind from understanding the questions put to him and giving rational answers to them.
Plain English Summary
Every person is competent to testify as a witness as long as they can understand questions and give rational answers, regardless of age or mental health status.
Key Legal Elements
- General rule: All persons are competent
- Ability to understand questions
- Ability to give rational answers
- Mental unsoundness is not an absolute bar
Practical Note
This section establishes a broad standard for witness competency. Even a child or a person with mental illness can testify if they can 'understand and answer rationally'. The court usually conducts a 'Voir Dire' test to check this capability.
हिंदी पाठ
कौन साक्ष्य दे सकेगा — सब व्यक्ति साक्ष्य देने के लिए सक्षम होंगे, जब तक कि न्यायालय का यह विचार न हो कि वे कोमल वय, अति वार्धक्य, शरीर या मन के रोग या इसी प्रकार के किसी अन्य कारण से उन्हें किए गए प्रश्नों को समझने से या उनके युक्तियुक्त उत्तर देने से निवारित हैं।
स्पष्टीकरण — कोई पागल व्यक्ति साक्ष्य देने के लिए अक्षम नहीं है, जब तक कि वह अपने पागलपन के कारण उसे किए गए प्रश्नों को समझने से और उनके युक्तियुक्त उत्तर देने से निवारित न हो।