Question not to be asked without reasonable grounds
Full Text
No such question as is referred to in section 151 ought to be asked, unless the person asking it has reasonable grounds for thinking that the imputation which it conveys is well-founded.
Illustrations
(a) An advocate is instructed by another advocate that an important witness is a dacoit. This is a reasonable ground for asking the witness whether he is a dacoit.
(b) An advocate is informed by a person in Court that an important witness is a dacoit. The informant, on being questioned by the advocate, gives satisfactory reasons for his statement. This is a reasonable ground for asking the witness whether he is a dacoit.
(c) A witness, of whom nothing whatever is known, is asked at random whether he is a dacoit. There are here no reasonable grounds for the question.
(d) A witness, of whom nothing whatever is known, being questioned as to his mode of life and means of living, gives unsatisfactory answers. This may be a reasonable ground for asking him if he is a dacoit.
Plain English Summary
Prohibits cross-examiners from asking character-defaming questions unless they have reasonable grounds to believe the accusation is true.
Key Legal Elements
- Prohibits advocates from putting character-shaking questions without genuine, well-founded, and reasonable grounds.
- Highlights that instructions from other advocates or verified informants constitute reasonable grounds.
- Declares that random/unsupported accusations, or fishing questions without context, are strictly forbidden.
Practical Note
As an advocate, this section enforces professional responsibility and ethics. You cannot launch into character assassination in cross-examination based on pure speculation or to merely humiliate a witness. You must have 'reasonable grounds'—such as instructions in your brief, a checked informant, or pre-existing records. If opposing counsel asks a highly defamatory question without any basis, you can demand they disclose if they have reasonable grounds, and point out that making baseless allegations violates their professional duty.
हिंदी पाठ
धारा 151 में निर्दिष्ट जैसा कोई प्रश्न तब तक नहीं पूछा जाना चाहिए, जब तक कि उसे पूछने वाले व्यक्ति के पास यह विश्वास करने के लिए उचित आधार न हों कि उसके द्वारा लगाया गया आक्षेप सुप्रतिष्ठित है।
दृष्टान्त
(क) एक अधिवक्ता को दूसरे अधिवक्ता द्वारा यह अनुदेश दिया जाता है कि एक महत्वपूर्ण साक्षी डाकू है। साक्षी से यह पूछने के लिए कि क्या वह डाकू है, यह उचित आधार है।
(ख) एक अधिवक्ता को न्यायालय में किसी व्यक्ति द्वारा यह सूचित किया जाता है कि एक महत्वपूर्ण साक्षी डाकू है। वह सूचक, अधिवक्ता द्वारा पूछे जाने पर, अपने कथन के लिए संतोषजनक कारण देता है। साक्षी से यह पूछने के लिए कि क्या वह डाकू है, यह उचित आधार है।
(ग) एक साक्षी से, जिसके बारे में कुछ भी ज्ञात नहीं है, यदृच्छया (बिना सोचे-समझे) पूछा जाता है कि क्या वह डाकू है। यहाँ प्रश्न के लिए कोई उचित आधार नहीं हैं।
(घ) एक साक्षी से, जिसके बारे में कुछ भी ज्ञात नहीं है, उसके जीवन की पद्धति और आजीविका के साधनों के बारे में पूछताछ किए जाने पर वह असंतोषजनक उत्तर देता है। यह उससे पूछने के लिए कि क्या वह डाकू है, एक उचित आधार हो सकता है।