Number of witnesses
Full Text
No particular number of witnesses shall in any case be required for the proof of any fact.
Plain English Summary
Establishes that courts weigh evidence rather than counting witnesses, meaning no specific number of witnesses is required to prove a fact.
Key Legal Elements
- No minimum or maximum quantity of witnesses is prescribed by law to prove a fact.
- Quality of evidence matters over the quantity of witnesses.
- A single, wholly reliable witness is sufficient to sustain a conviction.
Practical Note
This section codifies the classic legal maxim 'ponderantur testes, non numerantur' (evidence is weighed, not numbered). In practice, it means that a court can convict an accused based on the testimony of a single, highly credible witness, even if the defense produces multiple contrary witnesses. The focus must always be on the quality, credibility, and reliability of the testimony rather than a head-count of who testified.
हिंदी पाठ
किसी भी मामले में किसी तथ्य को साबित करने के लिए साक्षियों की किसी विशिष्ट संख्या की आवश्यकता नहीं होगी।