Order of examinations
Full Text
(1) Witnesses shall be first examined-in-chief, then (if the adverse party so desires) cross-examined, then (if the party calling him so desires) re-examined.
(2) The examination-in-chief and cross-examination must relate to relevant facts, but the cross-examination need not be confined to the facts to which the witness testified on his examination-in-chief.
(3) The re-examination shall be directed to the explanation of matters referred to in cross-examination; and, if new matter is, by permission of the Court, introduced in re-examination, the adverse party may further cross-examine upon that matter.
Plain English Summary
Establishes the chronological sequence of witness examination and defines the scope of each stage, allowing cross-examination to go beyond the chief but limiting re-examination.
Key Legal Elements
- Mandates the sequential order of witness examination: Chief first, then Cross, and finally Re-examination.
- Confines both Chief and Cross to relevant facts, but explicitly permits Cross to go beyond the scope of Chief.
- Limits Re-examination to explaining matters from Cross, requiring Court approval to introduce any new topic.
- Grants a statutory right of further Cross-examination to the adverse party if new matter is introduced during Re-examination.
Practical Note
For trial advocates, this section provides huge strategic power. Sub-section (2) is a crucial shield: it allows you to cross-examine a witness on any relevant fact, even if the opposing counsel completely avoided that topic during the examination-in-chief. Crucially, sub-section (3) protects you from 'trial-by-ambush' during re-examination; if the calling party introduces a new fact with the court's permission, you have an absolute statutory right to conduct a second cross-examination on that new topic.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) साक्षियों की पहले मुख्य परीक्षा होगी, फिर (यदि विरोधी पक्षकार ऐसा चाहे) प्रतिपरीक्षा होगी, फिर (यदि उन्हें बुलाने वाला पक्षकार ऐसा चाहे) पुनःपरीक्षा होगी।
(2) मुख्य परीक्षा और प्रतिपरीक्षा सुसंगत तथ्यों से संबंधित होनी चाहिए, किंतु प्रतिपरीक्षा का उन तथ्यों तक सीमित होना आवश्यक नहीं है, जिन पर साक्षी ने अपनी मुख्य परीक्षा में गवाही दी थी।
(3) पुनःपरीक्षा प्रतिपरीक्षा में निर्दिष्ट मामलों के स्पष्टीकरण की ओर निर्देशित होगी; और यदि न्यायालय की अनुमति से पुनःपरीक्षा में कोई नया मामला पेश किया जाता है, तो विरोधी पक्षकार उस मामले पर आगे प्रतिपरीक्षा कर सकेगा।