Questions intended to insult or annoy
Full Text
The Court shall forbid any question which appears to it to be intended to insult or annoy, or which, though proper in itself, appears to the Court needlessly offensive in form.
Plain English Summary
Mandates the Court to forbid questions designed to insult or annoy, or those phrased in a needlessly offensive manner.
Key Legal Elements
- Imposes a mandatory duty on the Court ('shall forbid') to reject questions intended solely to insult or annoy a witness.
- Extends this prohibition to questions that are proper in substance but presented in a needlessly offensive or aggressive form.
- Protects the dignity of witnesses and maintains civil courtroom decorum.
Practical Note
While Section 154 gives the court discretion to 'forbid' indecent/scandalous questions, Section 155 uses the mandatory word 'shall forbid'. This is your most powerful tool to stop 'browbeating' or aggressive intimidation of a witness in the box. If an opposing advocate shouts, uses sarcasm, mocks, or asks a proper question in a deeply insulting tone (e.g., calling them names or using humiliating preambles), object immediately under Section 155 and ask the judge to compel counsel to rephrase the question respectfully.
हिंदी पाठ
न्यायालय ऐसे किसी भी प्रश्न को निषिद्ध कर देगा जो उसे अपमानित या क्षुब्ध करने के लिए आशयित प्रतीत होता है, अथवा जो अपने आप में उचित होते हुए भी न्यायालय को प्रारूप में अनावश्यक रूप से आक्रामक प्रतीत होता है।