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1The Evidence Act, 1872

( ACT NO. I OF 1872 )

Chapter X

OF THE EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES

Impeaching credit of witness

155. The credit of a witness may be impeached in the following ways by the adverse party, or, with the consent of the Court, by the party who calls him:-

 
 

(1) by the evidence of persons who testify that they, from their knowledge of the witness, believe him to be unworthy of credit;

 
 

(2) by proof that the witness has been bribed, or has accepted the offer of a bribe, or has received any other corrupt inducement to give his evidence;

 
 

(3) by proof of former statements inconsistent with any part of his evidence which is liable to be contradicted;

 
 

2[***]

 
 

Explanation.–A witness declaring another witness to be unworthy of credit may not, upon his examination-in-chief, give reasons for his belief, but he may be asked his reasons in cross-examination, and the answers which he gives cannot be contradicted, though, if they are false, he may afterwards be charged with giving false evidence.

 
 

Illustrations

 
 

(a) A sues B for the price of goods sold and delivered to B. C says that A delivered the goods to B.

 
 

Evidence is offered to show that, on a previous occasion, he said that he had not delivered the goods to B.

 
 

The evidence is admissible.

 
 

(b) A is indicted for the murder of B.

 
 

C says that B, when dying, declared that A had given B the wound of which he died.

 
 

Evidence is offered to show that, on a previous occasion, C said that the wound was not given by A or in his presence. The evidence is admissible.


  • 1
    Throughout this Act, except otherwise provided, the words "Bangladesh", "Government" and "Taka" were substituted, for the words "Pakistan", "Central Government" and "rupees" or "Rs." respectively by section 3 and 2nd Schedule of the Bangladesh Laws (Revision And Declaration) Act, 1973 (Act No. VIII of 1973).
  • 2
    Sub-section (4) was omitted by section 21 of the Evidence (Amendment) Act, 2022 (Act No XX of 2022).
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